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."
Unless things have changed, foreign nationals with a green card could , and have served in our military. Check out the stories of citizenship ceremonies conducted in Iraq and elsewhere. As for my personal opinion, if they are willing to lay down their lives defending this country, the are welcome as brothers in arms. Semper Fidelis
If you want to act like commie liberal fine, more power to you pal.
Illegal aliens aren't joining the military because they are willing to lay down their lives for America. They are joining the military for all the benefits. If they get killed in the process that's no different than the risk they take illegally crossing the border. These people have no allegiance or loyalty to America or the rule of law. They grow up and live in cultures steeped in corruption and that is what they bring to the US. It doesn't work the other way, they don't become patriotic law abiding Americans.
I live in New York. Do you think my vote for president matters one bit? If Obama loses here, the Republican nominee is carrying 48 states. Even Giuliani could not beat Obama here. How can I vote for a candidate that celebrates abortion more than Obama does?
Where did you hear that?
Why don’t you realize that amnesty for illegals is blatantly unfair to those tens of millions of people waiting in line to enter this country? If we let everyone who wants to come to this country come here then it would be a different story but we don’t do that. Many of them are border jumpers and if we give them amnesty then they will be line jumpers as well.
Your guy has shown his stripes, he's nothing more than W when it comes to illegals, and frankly most genuine conservatives know this is not a good position to take, actually they know this is a horrendous position to take.
This is a disaster, and I noticed you haven't been able to defend it very well, actually, not at all.
I'll be waiting for your defense.
Admit it, he was stupid to say this, go ahead......man up......
Too many conservatives can’t let go of the romantic fantasy about poor desperate illegal aliens crossing the border against all odds to achieve the American dream and become hyper-patriotic Americans.
After watching Perry campaign and govern, my money is on him.
What’s wrong - nobody feels like fighting with you today?
Mr Perry, what part of illegal do you not understand!? You continue to look more and more like Obama every day and his way of doing business the more you suck up to the Mexican vote. You are looking more pathetic the more you embrace your chosen people.
The rule of law is the reason. The exceptions and nuances you argue for are just that, exceptions and nuances. Are you one of those elites that suggest the exceptions define the norm?
The only thing pathetic is your lack of understanding as to what the rule of law is and why it is not defined by the exceptions.
Illegal is illegal -period. Maybe the exceptions you champion could go to the head of the illegal line petitioning within the law for citizenship, but that is as far as they should go. They sure as hell should not bump any that follow the law.
Chain immigration amongst other things. I do not object to giving citizenship to those who honorably serve in the military (4 years+), but I do not think that should enable them to bring an entire illiterate brood of welfare recipients along with them.
Going back to my post, a green card signifying being in this country legally is needed before being accepted. I said nothing about illegals joining. If they are in the country legally,join the military, serve their time,have a clean record, then I think they deserve citizenship. Semper Fidelis
OK, I now know what you are referring to - the Naturalization Acts of 1790 and following.
I reread them to refresh my memory. Thanks for pointing to them.
I agree with you in the sense that they were thinking “white” - the civilized world they came from.
I doubt they could see where things would go.
It was wise of them to require a period of legal status, lengthy enough for someone new to our
system to learn how things are done here. I note it was lengthened during the French Rev.
Still, affluence was not a requirement, or education or country of origin - just a demonstration
of good character over an extended period of residence, and of course, being white.
Amen
Most of us want a candidate who isn't just a good "candidate", but one who will actually govern as a conservative and not a panderer.
That you can't defend his soft illegal immigration stances is quite telling, that you won't try to defend the asinine thing he just said about illegals in the military is even worse because it shows you can't.
Conservatives shouldn't pander for the illegal vote. Other conservatives don't support candidates who pander to the illegal vote.
None of us wants another W dream act candidate and neither should you. This is not some small issue, this is one of the half a dozen biggies. Shame on him.
Take a pill, please.
That's not a good thing.
Neither is it good your candidate is soft on illegal immigration. Defend it or stop supporting him, but don't pretend he didn't say something wrong by being snarky. That won't work here.
IF an illegal alien is enlisted into the military, we have a security and clearance issue.
Legal Aliens with a green card was allowed in my squadron. She did everything required to be a citizen. It took her two years. That is acceptable. BTW, the missions are secret.
Illegal aliens are to be deported. Seasonal immigrants were allowed with documentation. ca. 1983
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