Rick Perry: Illegal Immigrants Who Serve In The Military Deserve Citizenship

TPM ^ | August 20, 2011 | Evan McMorris-Santoro

[Cincinatus' Wife]

ROCK HILL, SC -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) spoke for a few minutes to reporters here about his views on immigration, which have gotten him into some hot water with the conservative base he hopes to woo as his presidential campaign spools up. What he offered up was a little something for everyone.

Perry said states should be responsible for their own immigration laws, also stating that the federal government must step up border enforcement. He also spelled out his support for a national program that would allow illegal immigrants who serve in the military to become citizens.

Illegal immigration is, of course, a core issue among conservatives, who continue to reject any plan that allows existing illegal immigrants to become citizens as part of comprehensive immigration reform. In Texas, Perry has taken a number of positions on the issue at the state level that have ruffled feathers on the national anti-illegal immigrant right -- including advocating for and signing a Texas version of the DREAM Act.

He opposes the national DREAM Act debated in the last Congress.

But in South Carolina Saturday, he said he supported a main tenet of that bill -- that illegal immigrants can earn their citizenship by serving honorably in the military.

"I think there is a path to citizenship for those young men and women who have served their country," Perry said in response to a question from NachoFiesta blogger Sean Quinn. "That is a very unique set of individuals, and different than folks who have come here illegally and not given back in that particular way."

But on other controversial immigration laws, Perry said the states should be able to do what they wish.

"I am a big believer in the 10th Amendment," Perry said. He said "state by state, they need to make those decisions" about charging illegal immigrants in-state college tuition prices (as Perry has advocated in Texas) or passing laws like Arizona's SB 1070.

"I happen to believe with all my heart that the states would be best served by being able to be free to make these decisions themselves," Perry said. "I didn't think that for the state of Texas and Arizona-exact law was right for the state of Texas. I didn't want to make our law enforcement officers federal immigration officers. So, state by state ought to be the way to do that, not by the federal government making one size fits all."

But Perry said the federal government needs to lead the way in some areas of immigration, such as a national reform package.

"Once we secure the border, we can have a conversation about immigration reform in this country, but not until," he said. "You must have the federal government putting the resources, the boots on the ground, the aviation assets in the air, and secure that border so that we know that the border is secure before we have a conversation about any immigration reform."

[hellbender]

If someone is here illegally, that person is a criminal by definition and should be deported immediately. Criminals should not be allowed to receive a taxpayer-funded salary, military or otherwise.

Perry is pandering to the Aztec La Raza vote. Say no to Perry! He is not a conservative.

[jacknhoo]

Rick Perry has dream where America's borders no longer exist.

Rick Perry would veto Arizona immigration law
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MxX1afjeols

Vicente Fox thanks Rick Perry for in-state tuition for illegals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2PQ_gU9hN0&feature=player_embedded

New Hampshire Tea Party: Perry endorses United Nations, NAFTA, CAFTA, Trans Texas Corridor.
http://www.nhteapartycoalition.org/tea/2011/06/23/rick-perry/

[Cincinatus' Wife]

My mistake.

I don’t have to ask if Ron Paul knows if you fight dirty.

[Delta Dawn]

Very good question.

Can you say, ‘Holder Justice Department’?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Perry in helicopter with Greta

It is the Federal government's responsibility to secure the border. What is "non" border state politician Obama doing about it but turning his back on Rick Perry when he went to meet him on the tarmac in Austin with a letter -- after being denied a meeting?

Texas Gov. Rick Perry tries to deliver to Obama a letter expressing border security concerns. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman/ Aug 9, 2010 -- His letter was handed to Valerie Jarrett (in pink suit).

[Cheetahcat]

“The Military is so hard up, that it needs this Refuse?? “

It’s hard to know if you are a racist, a bigot, a neo-nazi skinhead, a Ron Paul supporter or just a garden variety, hater of non-whites - or perhaps all of the above.

You might check the Statue of Liberty that overlooks Ellis Island. It bears this inscription:

“Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

In addition to excluding immigrants from Mexico,
which you have categorized here as trash, which
other categories do you hate or consider human trash?

The poor?
The tired?
Any huddled masses from any other country or race?
The homeless?
Those in communist countries that yearn to breath free?”

Are you just a open border Obama MORON! We do not need these hateful ,useless people here!

[South40]

I won't go as far as to say they are being paid though it certainly is possible. I know there is no amount of money that could make me sacrifice my principles and support RINO Rick the way they have.

And you're right about it being strange for a conservative site. They're trying to blur the lines between conservative and liberal similar to how those in congress have. For some that's good enough but, as I said, I refuse to sacrifice my principles, especially for the likes of open-borders Rick Perry.

So on one side we have conservatives who refuse to support a man who has advocated very liberal causes both in the past and at present. And on the other hand we have those who seem giddy to do so. I know I am on the right side of this debate, absolutely so when you factor in this is supposed to be a conservative forum.

[Cheetahcat]

“The Military is so hard up, that it needs this Refuse??

“Hello, my name is Juan. I have just come up from Mexico to your country. I have no skills, but I am strong and young. If you let me enter your armed forces, teach me discipline and your ways, I will fight for you. I ask only for citizenship, should I survive.”

Frankly, I’ll take a motivated Mexican over the trash we import from Europe and Africa anytime.....”

So in your eyes McCain,border jumping is OK??

[Cincinatus' Wife]

You’re welcome.

And about the Roman Legions — it was the power vacuum that left Rome vulnerable and that fit’s us to a tea under Obama’s guiding hand.

[Godebert]

You are evidence that this country is almost finished.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

.....I know I am on the right side of this debate, absolutely so when you factor in this is supposed to be a conservative forum.

You're so worthy. /s

[Cheetahcat]

Yes but you hate Americans and would put any trash that crawls in here in front of them,NOW that is a real Racist,Bigot,and Hater ,now go soak your head GW Bush!

[South40]

My mistake.

Posting this article? Yes, it was. :-P

I don’t have to ask if Ron Paul knows if you fight dirty.

I'm one of Paul's biggest critics so I'm not sure where you are going with that. And why do you consider my voicing my opinion of RINO Rick's record fighting dirty? If his record was as noble as you try to make it out to be you should be thanking me for alluding to it. I thank you for posting this article because I think it exposes further RINO Rick's open-borders, pro-ILLEGAL alien position. I thank you -- really!

[ScreamingFist]

So in your eyes McCain,border jumping is OK??

No, Ron Paul, it's not. But if we are going to have border jumpers, I'll go with the ones that will serve in the military.

[CowboyJay]

"He’s building a coalition. And he’s doing it real well."

Maybe if he plans to run as a Democrat.

Just another transnationalist retard trying to dupe other retards into voting for him. No sale.

[hellbender]

What’s the matter with you? Didn’t you know that Rick Perry is personally responsible for hundreds of thousands of new jobs in Texas? Didn’t you know that Texas was an ultra-liberal blue state before Rick Perry was elected and turned things around? Didn’t you know that Rick Perry founded the Tea Party? Didn’t you know that no one but Rick Perry can save us from Mitt Romney and Baraq 0bama? /s

[listenhillary]

““The Muslim community has a significant number of political conservatives, and they do support Perry,” said Mustafaa Carroll, executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations in Houston, “)

Provide a source for this other than a blogger put on their blog.

[OrangeHoof]

Wait, what?? How are illegal immigrants getting into the military in the first place?

I wondered about that too. But if an illegal served his commission and then outted himself as an illegal, I would be okay in recommending such a person for citizenship. After all, what higher calling can someone serve than to fight for the United States? I mean, there are thousands of liberal pukes who hate America and would never lift a finger to defend us and they get to be citizens just by the luck of where they were born.

IMO, a person who serves honorably in the military deserves our thanks as well as our citizenship even if it turns out he wasn't a legal citizen. If that's possible.

[icanhasbailout]

An inscription on a French-supplied statue is not a legal document nor is it in any way an embodiment of the United States of America.

The only people I have ever heard refer to that poem in recent times have been Communists seeking to overwhelm and overthrow the United States with third-world refugees and fortune-seekers who do not share American values and culture.

[Cheetahcat]

“So in your eyes McCain,border jumping is OK??

No, Ron Paul, it’s not. But if we are going to have border jumpers, I’ll go with the ones that will serve in the military.”

OK Obama ,we now fill the place with the third world!