CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colorado, said the consequences of the current immigration reform bill are "unbelievable" and "disastrous."

Tancredo received audience applause when he said that America's willingness to hold onto the English language is being tested and he is, "willing to do whatever is necessary to stop this piece of legislation."

The Republican lawmaker emphasized he would, "go after any Republican that votes for it because the Republicans can stop this."

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney also received audience cheers tonight after he fielded an immigration question.

The question referenced Sen. John McCain's criticism of Romney's past positions on immigration for what the Arizona senator was pandering for votes while not offering solutions on the issue.

Romney criticized the Kennedy-McCain immigration reform bill, arguing, "Almost everyone, under this bill gets to stay here. That's not fair to the millions and millions of people around the world that would love to come here, join with family members, bring skills and education we need."

The former Massachusetts governor believes the bill gives preferential treatment to illegal immigrants, "it is simply not fair to say those people get put ahead in the line of all the people who have been waiting legally to come to this country."

McCain said the U.S. needs to secure its borders and stop illegal immigration. He noted that Spanish was spoken in his home state of Arizona long before English was prevalent.

McCain stressed that many former and current members of the Armed Forces are Hispanic. The Arizona senator pointed out that many troops serving in harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan are not yet American citizens, but they, "love this country so much that they're willing to risk their lives in its service in order to accelerate their path to citizenship."

–CNN Associate Producer Natalie Apsell