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March 18, 2024

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2008 Elections

Republicans on Immigration

 

John McCain (has secured nomination)
McCain sponsored legislation, with Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., that would first secure the borders, then set up a temporary worker program that could only be valid through a tamper-proof biometric document and finally begin to deal with the 12 million illegal immigrants already in the U.S. . . . more | Other issues | Bio

 

Ron Paul
He wants to physically secure our borders and coastlines. He wants to enforce visa rules and have immigration officials track visa holders and deport anyone who overstays their visa or otherwise violates U.S. law. There should be no amnesty and no welfare for illegal aliens. He wants to end birthright citizenship because as long as illegal immigrants know their children born here will be citizens, the incentive to enter the U.S. will remain strong. The U.S. should pass true immigration reform. Legal immigrants from all countries should face the same rules and waiting periods. . . . more | Other issues | Bio

 

Rudy Giuliani (dropped out)
He would end illegal immigration in as few as three years by boosting the number of border security agents to 18,000 from the current 12,000, building a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border that would employ monitoring devices and deploy federal agents at the border at 50 mile intervals, using high-tech monitors to detect people trying to enter illegally. U.S. immigration laws should allow us to identify everyone who is in this country that comes here from a foreign country. They should have a tamper-proof ID card. It should be in a database that allows you to figure out who they are, why they’re here, make sure they’re not illegal immigrants coming here for a bad purpose, and then to be able to throw out the ones who are not in that database.. . . more | Other issues | Bio

 

Mike Huckabee (dropped out)
He says the U.S. needs to secure its borders. We need a fence along the border with Mexico, electronic in some places, and more highly trained border agents. The amnesty bill that was defeated by the Senate in June was not the answer. But the laws need to be revised to allow the 12 million illegal immigrants here a process where they can pay a reasonable fine in admission of their guilt for violating the border laws and agree to start getting legal status and citizenship. The U.S. needs to crack down on employers who are hiring illegal immigrants at lower wages by putting penalties on those employers... . . more | Other issues | Bio

 

Duncan Hunter (dropped out)
He supports building 854 miles of double-border fence across the Mexican border with California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. He is a steadfast opponent of amnesty for illegal immigrants who are here. Amnesty “encourages a whole new wave of illegal immigrants who seek to catch the next amnesty.” Illegal immigrants who are here need to leave because they are causing higher levels of unemployment, especially in the construction trades, by working for less than the going construction wages. He wants to change the law so that children of illegal immigrants who are born here do not automatically become citizens. He wants a nationwide employment verification system, with consequences placed on employers who hire illegal immigrants.. . . . more | Other issues | Bio

 

Mitt Romney (dropped out)
In order to end the continuing flow of illegal immigration, Romney believes that our borders must be strengthened and that the allure of accessible employment must be stopped. He is in favor of a fence along the Mexico-America border in addition to placing troops along the border for extra enforcement. Alongside the physical presence of border patrolling, Romney is in favor of an employment verification system for all immigrants without a valid social security number. The card would allow employers to identify whether or not they are legal to hire. The card system would put some of the responsibility on employers to end illegal immigration. What Romney does not believe in, is amnesty or any permanent residency for those already in the country illegally. . . . more | Other issues | Bio

 

Tom Tancredo (dropped out)
There is no doubt that America is facing an illegal immigration crisis. Currently, there are at least 12 million illegal aliens living in America. I am absolutely opposed to amnesty. In addition to rewarding those who broke our laws, amnesties simply do not solve the problem of illegal immigration. The only realistic solution to the problem of illegal immigration is a strategy of attrition, which seeks to reduce the flow of the illegal alien population over time by cutting off the incentives for coming to and staying in America - most importantly by eliminating the jobs magnet. America must also reexamine its legal immigration policies. Since 1990, that number has been roughly one million yearly - and that doesn’t count illegal aliens. America should reduce legal immigration to 250,000 people a year, which will allow the newcomers to assimilate.. . . more | Other issues | Bio

 

Fred Thompson (dropped out)
He is opposed to any form of amnesty for illegal immigrants. Arrest and deportation is not a reasonable solution either. Self-deportation can be achieved by enforcing the laws against unauthorized alien workers and their employers. Without illegal job opportunities, fewer aliens will try to enter and those here illegally now will likely return home. The borders can be made more secure by doubling the immigration agents, by increasing the border patrol to at least 25,000 agents and by increasing the number of detention facilities to hold illegal aliens that have been arrested. We should also increase funding to prosecute alien smugglers, to prosecute illegal alien gangs and bolster border security. . . more | Other issues | Bio

 

— Las Vegas Sun new media managing editor Dave Toplikar and intern Jenna Kohler compiled this report.

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