CNN

[...] Romney: Amnesty 'the wrong way to go' [...]

as a staunch democrat i wouldn't elect a republican as a dog catcher. but i wholeheartedly agree with you on your stance with illegals. boot their behinds back to mexico. IMPEACH BUSH

If people don't think that illegals should pay their back taxes, pay a fine for having broken federal immigration laws and be placed in queue to file proper citizenship forms,

then how should these people proceed?

Should they stay in the US WITHOUT paying taxes? Without receiving a Social Security card? Without obeying laws?

If so, can I stop paying taxes, too? Can I discontinue my SSN and agree to live off personal funds when I retire? I would easily take that risk and agree to that if only to avoid being subjected to income tax increases!

Rick,

You're holding something from 150 years ago to Romney's charge, predicting his reaction and then holding him as a hypocrite.

Furthurmore, your singling out Mormon pioneers as if they did something different from the whole rest of the nation.

The whole United States was settled without recognizing the Indians as possessors of it.

So you would be OK with the Indians kicking you out of Illinois, to return your own question? And you would just go along with it because that is right?

To Cable King Pittsburgh Pa:

Your logic seems flawed. Mormon pioneers were not under Ute law. Also, the whole United States was occupied by Indians. And all the other states were "stolen" and not settled by Indian law either. The story is the same, everywhere across America.

You, I and Mr. Romney had nothing to do with that decision making process of settling and making states. The Ute story is more than 150 years old.

Again, Mr. Romney favors immigration, not illegal immigration. There is a difference.

My house was broken into last night, but the criminal didn't do anything but sit at my table and ask for a job, rights to everything I have in my house, access to the same medicine cabinet that I use, since he couldn't read the same books that I do, I went out and bought books in his language, and since he was just there to help his family, I apologized for yelling at him for breaking into my house.

Do you realize how foolish that sounds?

Step #1 – No more anchor babies

Step #2 – Secure our borders

Step #3 – We do not have to "round up" all of the criminals, simply go after the businesses that supply them with jobs and once the jobs are gone, they will go home.

Legal immigrants that are waiting to do it the right way, can then be expedited through the process and then I will open my door to them and they can legally sit at my table and I will celebrate their "doing it the right way" with them.

Romney's website is indeed in Spanish, showing that he is reaching out to the legal Spanish folks and he applauds them.

He DID NOT hire illegals to do his yard work, he hired a contractor who in turn hired the illegals to work for him. Now if he asked "do you employ illegals", you would be decrying him for that as well.

I hired a contractor to side my house, and I know for a fact that he had illegals on his crew (after the work was done), does that mean I am for Illegal immigration?

Just like Romney, I wholly support all efforts to make LEGAL immigration easier and the norm.

Shawn,

I'm not anti-mormon, I'm anti-hypocrisy. Again, how would Mitt feel if the Ute indians decided (today) to oust 11 million mormons from Utah? Would he defend the Ute indian rights to maintaining their land and laws or would he dismiss it?

Heather from IL –

What you say about Romney's lawn service is not true.

I have a lawn service. I can't be sure they aren't using illegal workers, even if they tell me they arent'.

14 people were involved in a van accident over Labor Day weekend on I-55 nr. the affluent Chicago suburb of Burr Ridge. Two of the passengers died in the crash. The 27 yr. old driver was found to be driving without a license, driving without insurance, driving a vehicle she didn't own, and in the US. illegally. All of the passengers reside in Chicago's "Little Village" neighborhood where, incidentally, federal agents recently uncovered a fake ID operation. All of the passengers found to be working for a "temporary agency" for day laborers. Most of the passengers are here in US illegally from Mexico. Most of passengers taken to hospital. Some are in critical condition, receiving the best possible American hospital care, which incidentally, a lot of Americans can't afford.

This is one example of the possible connection between high health care and insurance costs and illegal immigration.

Does anyone think it's a good idea for any person to be in this country illegally? If so, what is the reason they shouldn't have to apply for immigration status properly?

well he is right about this issue. I'm so sick of the people who either support amnesty or wonder aloud about what are we supposed to do with the ones here and who pays for it. you can raise my taxes a little if you promise to get them out. and to nh4ronpaul, of course the media stays away from him, he's not a neo-con or CFR member like the others.

Micah,

Please put on YOUR THINKING CAP!

How do you justify Mormons stealing lands from Utes because there was no law against it. I guess you think Ute law didn't exist!!!

to Rick from Chicago,

Now I get it. I couldn't figure out all the nonobjective comments. You're anti-Mormon.

To Heather from IL. You're spreading false info. He didn't hire any illegal immigrants. The landscaping company he contracted with used them. A guy like this isn't going to be standing around at home looking out his window at yard workers. You have a tough case to prove that he personally oversaw that and condoned it.

Mitt and other candidates are all for immigration, the right way, and so am I. Illegal immigration is costing us a fortune.

Many here have tried to use the argument that it would be too difficult for America to 'round-up' or 'run-off' or deport all of the illegal aliens in our country. Right now, I’d have to agree that there is absolutely no immediate magic cure for this huge problem, and that includes rewarding criminals for criminal behavior (i.e. amnesty). We did that already, granting amnesty to over 2.5 million illegal aliens. Remember the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986? In the 80's, many members of Congress advocated amnesty for long-settled illegal immigrants. President Reagan considered it reasonable to adjust the status of what was then a relatively small population (estimated at less than 1 million) of illegal aliens. In exchange for allowing aliens to stay, border security and enforcement of immigration laws would have to be greatly strengthened – in particular, through sanctions against employers who hired illegal immigrants.
The Act included the following: illegal immigrants who could establish that they had resided in America continuously for five years would be granted temporary resident status, which could be upgraded to permanent residency after 18 months and, after another five years, to citizenship; immigrants had to pay application fees, learn to speak English, understand American civics, pass a medical exam and register for military selective service. Those with convictions for a felony or three misdemeanors were ineligible. Sound familiar? These are pretty much the same provisions included in the new Senate proposal and cited by its supporters as proof that they have eschewed amnesty in favor of earned citizenship.
The difference is that President Reagan called this what it was: amnesty. Look up the term "amnesty" in Black's Law Dictionary, and you'll find it says, "The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act provided amnesty for undocumented aliens already in the country."
Well: the 1986 act did not solve our illegal immigration problem. From the start, there was widespread document fraud by applicants. Unsurprisingly, the number of people applying for amnesty far exceeded projections. And there proved to be a failure of political will in enforcing new laws against employers. After a six-month slowdown that followed passage of the legislation, illegal immigration returned to normal levels and continued unabated. Ultimately, some 2.7 million people were granted amnesty, and many who were not – stayed anyway, forming the nucleus of todays unauthorized population.
Regan’s plan was not upheld, the borders were NOT secured. All the 1986 act did was open the floodgates.
The fair and sound policy is to give those who are here illegally the opportunity to correct their status by returning to their country of origin and getting in line with everyone else. This, along with serious enforcement and control of the illegal inflow at the border will significantly reduce over time our population of illegal immigrants in our country. "Humanely regain control of our borders and thereby preserve the value of one of the most sacred possessions of our people: American citizenship." – Ronald Regan.

The salient point still seems to be missed. Wanna solve the problem almost overnight? Fine the employers in a meaningful way who hire undocumented workers.
Uh, sorry, I forgot – most companies are owned by Republican businessman

Rick fr. Chicago, you're wrong about Gov. Romney . He's quoted as saying:

"Legal immigration is great. But illegal immigration, that we've got to end. And amnesty is not the way to do it." Mitt Romney

Why are health care costs are so high? Why are insurance companies so tight with payouts and why is your insurance so costly? Could illegal immigration have something to do with high medical care costs? Here's an example of why insurancce and medical care is sky-high:

14 people were involved in a van accident on I-55 nr. Chicago over Labor Day weekend. Two of the passengers died in the crash. The 27 yr. old driver was found to be driving without a license. All of the passengers reside in Chicago "Little Village" where, incidentally, federal agents recently uncovered a fake ID operation. All of the passengers found to be working for a "temporary agency" for day laborers. Most of the passengers are here in US illegally from Mexico. Most of passengers taken to hospital. Some are in critical condition.

yes i aree with romney on his immigration views it about time a presidential candidate talk this action for the american citizen

Rick from Chicago -
Are you serious? You're playing the Mormons and Utes card? You're aware that this whole country was happily inhabited by Indians until we all immigrated here, right? You're aware that we as a nation slowly moved into every state in the Union where Indians were living and took over their way of life and put them onto reservations, right? You're right, Rick – Florida, Oklahoma, Michigan, Arizona, the Dakotas (and many more) - they didn't have any well-established Indians there when our forefathers got here. What good is bringing up Mormons and Utes?

When did Mitt say he was anti-immigrant? Never. He's anti-illegal immigration if you care to pay attention to what you're reading. Get a clue

Wow! Can I break the law and get rewarded for it too?

Where are we going to fill those jobs once we make them leave? It's ridiculous to assert that the greatest economy in the history of mankind is dependent on a few million uneducated low skilled low paid foreign workers. We will get the workers to replace them from the millions of legal immigrants who want to become citizens. We are like the company for which everyone wants to work. That company would never allow people to walk through their front door and announce to them that they are now employees. Neither should we allow people to sneak in and announce they are now residents and demand special treatment. Rule of law is what sets us apart from many nations. Illegal aliens, who are migrants, not immigrants, need to go home and get in line like like everybody else.

Mitt is right, seal the borders enforce the immigration laws that are on the books. Those medial jobs can be taken by the unemployed teenagers of this country. Hand out jail time for employers that employ illegal immigration. Start with a national I.D. system have some company like Mastercard issue out the I.D.s

I,m glad to hear Mitt Romney take a sensible stand on Illegal immigration.
There are 100 reasons for the U.S. to inforce our immigration laws. When immigrants come in to the U.S. legally
they are checked for desease, crimminal activity, terrorist activity,
etc. etc. No other country in the world lets people sneak into thier country least of all Mexico. Mitt Romney has my vote.

We are all Immigrants in this country including you Mr. Romney. If in doubt ask your forefathers.

Maybe, just maybe if illegals wern't doing these jobs, wages would have to increase for American citizens to do them. After all isn't American labor worth more for the quality you recieve?

Hey Rick...

the difference is called a "law".

The "mormons" had no laws against immigration to Utah, "illegals" do.

Let's use our thinking caps...

In response to Aaron Kinney when he sais, "Where will we fill those jobs once we make them leave? We are dealing with record low unemployment and its not like US citizens are rushing to garden, clean, farm, and do all the other tough jobs that immigrants do." Isn't that the same argument the South had when the North wanted to outlaw slavery? Looks like the past years have worked out ok! If you read Romney's points on his website he clearly gives a detailed plan on what to do with those already here including ID cards and worker programs. This article is simply pointing out high points of his speach and great "one-liners." Just do some research before you make comments.

Why is Mitt so anti-immigrant? It's ok for mormons to take over Utah from the Ute indians but god-forbid hard working people want to live and work in this country that came from somewhere else?

Aaron Kinney wrote:
"It's not like THEY chose to be illegal anyway!"

Who did? I certainly didn't! That sounds like a personal choice to me. I went through the legal process and would expect them to also!

And the president of Mexico criticizes us for hurting their economy by tightening our immigration process? Wow!

Making things "legal" does not solve problems.

Mitt is correct – amnesty is NOT the answer.

Yeah, okay Mitt..... this coming from the same person who hired illegal immigrants to do his yard work knowingly. Why don't we stop listening to these politicians telling us what we want to hear, and try looking into their background and voting record a bit?

What part of ILLEGAL immigrants is so hard to understand. Anything less than prosecution to the fullest extent of the law is a slap in the face to law and justice. No country in the world would let someone illegally enter their country and demand citizenship and all the benifits it affords.
Plain and simple. No debate needed.

How to get votes? Tell people what they want to hear. ACT. Isn't that right Senor Romney?

The guy has no clue

Two points Tom from Huxley, IA:
1. There are currently operations that deport illegals. There is no need for a large scale operation. All that is required is to seal the border properly and continue the current deportations. The reason they are not helping right now is because, once an illegal immigrant is deported he or she can come right back in. A properly sealed border will take care of that.
2. It's rather hypocritical to say "Life is not as black and white" and "you conservatives" in the same sentence.

What does the Mitt propose;i.e. massive deportations by train or plane, barge or boat. We should revise the Nazi plan for moving Jews to the death camps; there may be trnaportation techniques he can use. The USA and the rest of the Americas can solve this problem by investing in infrastructure
in order to create jobs. They come here out desperation; thier despotic regimes are corrupt. So why do we not invade them and set democratic governments responsible to the peole?

Isn't this guy's website in Espanol?

Why do so many insist on making these people out to be lazy, evil, villains? We are talking about people who, at great personal risk and sacrifice, travel for miles on foot, take on back-breaking menial jobs, and endure the scorn and derision of millions of people, all in an effort to provide for their family.

Do I believe we need to secure our borders? Absolutely. Border security is a necessary component of national security. But I also think it is high time we stop villifying people who want nothing more than to provide a better life for themselves and their families. That has been a defining element of what it is to be an American for our entire history. We shouldn't be closing the gates now.

Does anyone think that if we slowly phase out illegal immigrants from working for companies here in the US, it will help our economy? Will LEGAL immigrants be eager for the jobs that the illegals have left? What about unemployed American citizens- will they take up any of these jobs? And finally, what about able-bodied people collecting welfare- will they take any of the jobs left behind by illegal immigrants who have gone back to their native country?

I believe this idea could work. It all starts with checking employer rolls for illegals. I read that this whole thing, from start to finish will take several years, but it's our economy we're talking about; it's our country's future we're re-shaping.

Illegal aliens take more than they give. They benefit a few with cheap labor, but cost us a lot in the long run.

It is humorous to read people putting words in his mouth and then arguing with it. EX: "rounding people up".

The laws already exist, he is talking about enforcement of what is already in place....

Reply to those who wonder how Romney can do it-

Gov. Romney addressed this in New Hampshire this weekend. He explains his intentions to make it work :

He (Romney) believes they will eventually leave the country of their own volition.

"I wouldn't round them up as one big group and try to bus them all home at once" Romney said.

Romney envisions that, as the federal govt cracks down on companies and employers who hire illegal immigrants, the word will spread and illegal immigrants will conclude they won't be able to get work and will begin to return to their native countries.

"Realistically they will attrite, they will return to their homes and they will be replaced over time with legal workers."

"The idea is a gradual and humane replacement of illegal workers with either U.S. citizens or legal immigrants. We don't want to put ourselves in a setting where we hurt our own economy."

No amnesty. Okay, how do you plan on rounding up 11 million people, Mittsy? Who's going to pay for it? Are you aware of the scope of that kind of operation? You'd be using a shotglass to bail out the Titanic. Stop speaking in sound bites that people want to hear and offer some real solutions already. Life is not as black and white as you conservatives make it out to be.

He makes decent points. The real thing we need to note is why people are coming here from Mexico. We need to encourage their government to make enough improvement in their citizens way of life that they do not feel the need to leave.
Easier said than done, I know, but it is the only way to truly solve it.

This is perhaps the only issue on which the Mittster is right according to a large majority of voters. Illegals, amnesty and sanctuary are all simply wrong.

He already said something like this over a month ago, and some enterprising citizen reporter needs to ask him the question at the link to find out exactly what he means. (Please don't wait for the MSM to call him on his semantic games, everyone needs to go to his appearances, ask him that question, then upload his response to video sites.)

If not amnesty, then what? Kick the immigrants out? Where will we fill those jobs once we make them leave? We are dealing with record low unemployment and its not like US citizens are rushing to garden, clean, farm, and do all the other tough jobs that immigrants do.

Romney is oblivious. Its not a "wrong" message to be mature enough, as a nation, to admit that our immigration laws are WRONG and need to be FIXED.

Its actually the "right" message to reward hard working immigrants with acceptance, even if they are illegal. Its not like THEY chose to be illegal anyway! Its only our own ridiculous laws that declared them to be illegal.

Go Mitt! You tell 'em. Not only do illegal immigrants steal our jobs, but they don't pay taxes, technically stealing billions from our government to live here. They need to be kicked out or legitimized. I also support the complete lock-down of our borders. We really don't need any more people in the USA. Let's let established and contributing citizens live, learn, grow and mature here. People are free to visit, but the age where this is an immigrant destination is over.

Have you noticed that if you do a Google search for Congressmen or women's name and then add, "Report Card" you usually end up with a choice that says BetterImmigration in part of the link and it takes you to a page like this?

http://www.betterimmigration.com/candidates/2006/RomneyPres08.html

Why is Romney the only candidate who is making sense on this issue?

Illegal immigrants BROKE THE LAW!!! Why are other candidates looking for ways to let illegals stay so that we tax payers can foot the health care bills for them when they get hurt jumping the border fence?

Illegal immigration has to stop, and those illegal immigrants already in the country need to either 1) apply for a visa like everyone else, or 2) go home where they can reside legally.

We should not be supporting any kind of illegal immigration in any form.....IT'S ILLEGAL!!!

I was at a function today with Mitt. This has to be the most boring candidate ever. He never said anything really earthshaking and just skimmed on a 'Republican values' sort of theme. There is just no fire for this man.

Yet, there were numerous reporters and photographers there, eager to catch his every word.

Where were these people during all the Ron Paul visits when he had 300 screaming people there and gave fiery SUBSTANTIVE speeches? Honestly, the press misses the best stories.

Monday August 20th was Ron's birthday. There were many photo and story opps at the restaurant - the old woman who came in off the street and said she loved Ron, the little boy who came in to ask about the war, and the young student who asked one question and became an immediate supporter - and the business people who spent their lunchtime so they could meet a REAL CONSERVATIVE.

I guess the news outlets would rather spend time on these phony slick guys pretending to be republicans, and of whom we are already sick to death.

If you want to capture some real excitement check the videos of Iowa and the UNPAID support of Ron Paul.
Check the videos of Strafford County and see the UNPAID supporters who came out to win that poll.

People do not want a president who buys his way into the white house...sorry!

Romney gets it. No reason to treat illegal immigrants better than the law-abiding people who want to become Americans and have gone through the paperwork and queuing. Go Mitt!

Gov. Romney is right that just because someone came here illegally doesn't mean they should get special treatment to becoming citizens.

I think these illegals should pay their back taxes, pay a fine for having broken federal immigration laws and be placed in queue to file proper citizenship forms.

Governor Romney continues to be the Chameleon Candidate: he turns red in the red states, and blue in the blue ones. Romney, who got caught using undocumented labor for both Massachusetts Public Works projects and his own yard work, has also taken liberal positions as recently as the last couple of years.

Here’s Romney in a November 2005 interview with the Globe, supporting the McCain/Bush position, claiming it was:

"quite different from amnesty, because they required illegal immigrants to register with the government, work for years, pay taxes, not take public benefits, and pay a fine before applying for citizenship,”
"That's very different than amnesty, where you literally say, 'OK, everybody here gets to stay... It's saying you could work your way into becoming a legal resident of the country by working here without taking benefits and then applying and then paying a fine."

In the same interview, Romney said it was not "practical or economic for the country" to deport illegal immigrants, adding:

"These people contribute in many cases to our economy and to our society,""

Here’s Romney in the March 30, 2006 Lowell Sun:

“I don’t believe in rounding up 11 million people and forcing them at gunpoint from our country,”

“Those that are here paying taxes and not taking government benefits should begin a process towards application for citizenship, as they would from their home country.”

Whatever your position on immigration or anything else, Mitt Romney agrees with you. He just wants your vote, and he’s willing to say anything to get it.