I asked him specifically about deporting visa overstays when he spoke a number of years ago to our grassroots immigration organization in VA. He is big on building fences, but not so big on interior enforcement and deportation. And he was not in favor of reducing legal immigration.
I’ve talked to him many dozens of times in person and on the phone. He accepted no amount of illegal immigration, VISA overstays or border border jumpers or “long time” illegals. He and Tancredo were the only one in 2008 that did not equivocate on sending all illegals home - genuine NO AMNESTY. I can dig up many quotes.
His 1st priority was and is securing the border, because, as he argued many times, it doesn’t do much good to deport Mexicans and S. Americans if they can turn around and re-enter with ease...as they do this very minute.
But if you look at HIS legislation which he either sponsored or co-sponsored, it is clear that all illegals needed to go. None of this we’ll secure the border then decide what to do with them later crap.