Posted on 08/20/2011 1:32:05 PM PDT by 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."
Do you mean that enough illegal immigrants are getting into the military that we actually have to have a policy as to how we deal with that?
How can the country not vet the people going into the military to at least know if they are citizens? Are birth certificates not requested? Oh wait,m they can be made to say anything...
Only if they keep their illegal immigrants in their own state. Perry is nuts on that one.
I would like someone to explain to us how illegal aliens are allowed to join the U.S. military also. I thought allowing the homosexuals to join was going to take care of the shortage of recruits. Why do we need illegal aliens in the military?
Thanks for posting this!
THe 10th amendment isn’t a cover for anything. It’s a constitutional restriction which allows states to run their own lives without representatives of other states bugging them about it.
Immigration is a federal issue, and as he said, it needs to be dealt with federally. But in enforcement of illegal immigration laws, which the federal government also has a big part of, Perry is saying that each state should be allowed to also take actions as they see fit, which includes deciding in their own states what their own taxpayers will subsidize in the way of illegals.
Note that nothing in the Texas law that allows illegal immigrants to get in-state tuition would prevent the federal government from deporting them. They are in the state, the state has to deal with them, and Texans, through their duly elected legislature representing their people, have decided that they’d rather have them get college-educated on the taxpayer dime than not.
So long as I don’t have to pay a penny for it, why should I care? That is what the 10th amendment says — states should keep out of other state’s business, meaning the feds should stay out.
Good to see Bush2 admit he wants amnesty for illegals. Now we can move on to a real conservative candidate.
“. . . his support for a national program that would allow illegal immigrants who serve in the military to become citizens. “
Huh?
Does this newspaper, or Perry himself, confuse illegal immigrants with non citizens? People commonly do that in their argument and it is offensive, but governors and newspapers do know better.
I have served alongside many such troops who seem devoted to this country. Illegal immigrants are in a completely different category, in fact.
From About.com:
In order for a non-citizen to enlist in the military, he/she must first be a legal immigrant (with a green card), permamently residing in the United States. It’s important to note that the military cannot and will not assist in the immigration process. One must immigrate first, using normal immigration quotas and procedures, and — once they’ve established an address in the United States — they can find a recruiter’s office and apply for enlistment.
“. . . his support for a national program that would allow illegal immigrants who serve in the military to become citizens. “
Huh?
Does this newspaper, or Perry himself, confuse illegal immigrants with non citizens? People commonly do that in their argument and it is offensive, but governors and newspapers do know better.
I have served alongside many such troops who seem devoted to this country. Illegal immigrants are in a completely different category, in fact.
From About.com:
In order for a non-citizen to enlist in the military, he/she must first be a legal immigrant (with a green card), permamently residing in the United States. It’s important to note that the military cannot and will not assist in the immigration process. One must immigrate first, using normal immigration quotas and procedures, and — once they’ve established an address in the United States — they can find a recruiter’s office and apply for enlistment.
He’s building a coalition. And he’s doing it real well.
About Malkin? She’s crossed the line into kookdom — or else her “totally in the bag for another candidate non objectivity” is glowing like a neon sign.
DeMint isn’t endorsing anyone and didn’t want others to either - yet - but they couldn’t help but get behind Perry.
Palin? Palin has to endorse now? Give me a break.
Mark Levine ......
Who else you got?
“Exactly, it is a slippery and dangerous slope, allowing those people into the military, that are not citizens in the first place.”
On this, I do not agree.
Service for Citizenship has been a long-standing tradition in English-speaking countries, going back about, oh, 600+ years?
Nobody says they have to be silo officers, but a six-year tour deserves to be rewarded. These are folks willing to trade their LIVES for us, in return for Citizenship. Isn’t this the type of immigration we’d LIKE to encourage?
The globalists want a diverse military that looks like America after all the social engineering. What they will do and it is already happening is
They will take so many blacks, so many women, so many illegals, so many sodomites, eyc, etc.
That means that some of the best and the brighest white boys will not be allowed in because they have not filled their quote of transexual American Indians.
Impossible illegals cannot pass basic police check or ENTNAC required to enlist. So now gays and illegals can populate the military. I would suggest white christian males go to school and skip military service. I want to know one thing can Perry name one country that would allow me to enter illegally and join their regular military? French Foriegn Legion is a possible exception as I believe members can become French citizens at some point.
Illegals are NOT allowed to serve in the US military. Period.
If you are going to pimp a candidate you should at least know what he is saying first.
The DREAM act envisions allowing illegals to serve and afterwards be awarded citizenship. Bush2 supports this provision of the DREAM act.
Also known as AMNESTY!
(immigrants with green cards CAN serve now and earn their citizenship)
A coalition? What, with all the new voters Obama’s in the process of giving amnesty to?
Isn’t the military now using SS#’s as serial #’s?? Where did these illegals get their SS number and how?
On this topic, we’ve seen a number of citizenship ceremonies over in Iraq and other areas overseas where active duty are awarded citizenship. I have the same initial reaction...how do people get into the military w/o citizenship. I would hope they are somehow documented foreigners. On the flip side, I can’t think of a better way to demonstrate love of our country than to volunteer for service in this way, and citizenship is a just reward for that sacrifice.
I wonder if Barack is having his daughters raised Islamic? Poor confused little girls.
later
“Illegal Immigrants Who Serve In The Military Deserve Citizenship”
I completely agree, but they have to sign up for a 6 year hitch.
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