KICK THEM OUT!! but on the other hand AMERICA WANTS AND NEEDS THEIR OIL FLOWING !!

I think the debate on the hispanic channels was an excellent idea, that way the hispanics that don't speak english have a much broader understanding of where these politicians stand. They may even understand it better than some Americans here do, with so many Americans thinking that the immigration reform bill that was shot down by majority congress vote months ago, was giving the illegals 'amnesty'. Illegals of every nationality, not just hispanic.
When in fact it was a bill that was going to make all the illegals in this country have to pass many requirements before they would be allowed to become Americans. Not only that, but it was going to also effect the employeers who knowinly employ them. It was going to at least make these employers employing the immigrants that followed and passed the requirements, pay the immigrants what they would have to pay an American doing the same job.
Its important that these immigrants understand that it wasn't going to be an easy path to citizenship, nor was it going to 'amnesty' or handed to them on a silver platter as some Americans would like to convince everyone in America of.
I think its important that these illegal immigrants understand the whole picture, and since most don't understand english or follow the American media, this debate on the hispanic channel was a great idea.
When that issue of the immigration reform bill was being tore apart by several people to include some politicians, etc, months ago, Mr. McCain was a backer of that immigration reform bill, and I think that the hispanics have every right to know that.
Because I do believe to them, that they know there was going to be a path they could have followed to become Americans, and congress voted it down, taking away any chance any immigrant (not intending to break any of our criminal laws) would have had to become an American citizen.
Now its election campaigning time and several candidates are like 'vote for me!', only the one man running for President who stood behind and tried to get that immigration reform bill passed, Mr. McCain, is now being ran down by how many people posting on here alone?
Is that why some are upset about this debate on a hispanic channel? they think the hispanics will understand now who was trying to help lead a path for them to citizenship?

In response to LB, Franklin Lakes, NJ

You are right. We cannot physically round up every last illegal immigrant and send them back. Firstly the costs would be outrageous and secondly there is no guarantee their own country would take them back. What we can do though is stop offering incentives for coming to America illegally. Cease the "automatic birthright" and stop providing free public education to children of illegal immigrants. May sound heartless but our children are failing because the schools are so overcrowded and since the majority of illegals do not pay taxes, they should not benefit from the public school system. Stop providing free healthcare and that includes childbirth in San Diego where hundreds if not thousands of pregnant illegal immigrants flee to have their children again at the expense of tax paying American citizens. Stop sancutuary cities by taking away all federal funding until they start to enforce the immigration laws. Stop preventing local police from enforcing immigration laws. Stop allowing apartment owners rent to illegal immigrants. Stop US banks such as Bank of America and Wells Fargo from offering loans and bank accounts to illegal immigrants. Stop allowing corporations to get away with hiring illegal immigrants. Did you know in 2006 only 3(!) corporations faced fines in regards to illegal immigration. If we stop offering incentives then illegal immigrants will no longer come here. As for the ones that are here already, if we start doing the above they will more than likely sneak back across the border.

And yet…Ron Paul is a Libertarian….not a Republican…

I'm waiting to hear just how the Republicans are going to force the 12-20 million illegal aliens back to Mexico (they're not all from Mexico but for argument's sake). Will we have police, soldiers, national guard busting down the doors of suspected illegals and drag them into trucks for shipment south? Can anyone imagine the cost of this? Yes we can make laws that say all illegals must return home before they can apply for citizenship but who's going to obey these laws? The laws we have now aren't being obeyed. None of these candidates except for McCain (and most people don't like his ideas) have any practical plan for dealing with illegal immigration. They talk tough, though.

Michael Arnaud-Glen Burnie said: 5. The Mexican Government should be put on notice that if they will not honor our border then Congress will issue a declaration of war to put a stop to the illegals coming over.

That's awesome! Go to war with Mexico!!

We've spent billions and killed thousands in Iraq to get oil, but that failed. Maybe if we spend billions and kill thousands in Mexico this time we can do better, and make sure that our lawn keepers are white and get paid minimum wage! Hooah! Send in the troops!

I needed a good laugh. Thanks!

This debate was a discrimination in its worse form. We are in America and legal citizens speak English. In order to become a citizen one has to be able to read and write English , unless the person is blind or has other disabilities that would prevent their learning. I think the presentation was a pandering that defies comprehension. This country is in a sorry state due to these mealy mouth politicians. Not one will get my vote!!!

It's great how you leave out the things Ron Paul was cheered for, his stance on Iraq and the National ID card. I swear CNN, can you go one day without being biased? How much of the RNC has stock in Time Warner? Your station is utterly pathetic. Always asking "oh why isn't Ron Paul getting more attention?" yet NEVER doing anything to change that.

Looks like the only one making sense is again Ron Paul. Rudy wants an id card. what a fool. and mcCain takes the cake. he must be all up in the NAU.

What all sides of the debate are forgetting is it's called illegeal immigration for a reason, it's ILLEGAL.
It's breaking the law. Hispanics from all over Central America and Mexico come running across our border because they know the worst that will happen to them is that they will be sent back to their home country so they can try again.

Not to mention, the money sent back to Mexico for the illegals here in the US, is the 2nd biggest money maker for the Mexican Government after their oil exports. So why would the Mexican Government try to keep their people from voilating the border? Lose out on all that money? Yeah, right.

Because of political correctness, the Dems shout how 'racist' the Repubs are over this issue. The Repubs couldn't really care less so as long as they get their lawns mowed and their houses cleaned.

What needs to happen is the President and the Congress need to grow a set of b***s and do several things:
1. Round up every single illegal and their families and send them back to their home country. Alot of bleeding hearts would say that the children were born here in the US, but why should a crime be rewarded becuase the criminal had a kid here. Send them all home.
2.Not only does a stronger fence need to be builkt along the border with Mexico, but the military should be deployed to patrol it. Not just the National Guard in support roles watching the border, but armed soliders and Marines out there protecting the border.
3.The issue of border security need to stop just being a justice issue and be one of national security. Drug dealers, other smugglers and terrorists use our border to come in to our country so that's why our troops should be brought home from Iraq and sent to the border with Mexico.
4.A 100 mile exclusion zone should be declared around our East and West Coasts. The Coast Guard and the Navy should be given the power to stop and search every ship that comes near our port that are not a US flagged ship. Any vessel found to have illegals of any kind onboard will be impounded the crew arrested the illegals deported and the ship sunk.
5. The Mexican Government should be put on notice that if they will not honor our border then Congress will issue a declaration of war to put a stop to the illegals coming over.

Our ELECTED SERVANTS need to recognise that there is a war going on at our border and we need to start fighting that one. Yet since the Cogress and President are more worried about keeping their jobs instead of doing their jobs, theis issue will not be solved anytime soon.

This pandering will not help him in Nov 08! We as Americans have a right to expect our leadership to work hard on behalf of our security! No one is doing that except Duncan Hunter (not going to win the nomination). If the audience cannot understand the issue is ILLEGAL immigration shame on them!

Wow. Way to spin an issue in your favor Mr. McCain but perhaps you should stick the truth and include in your speech that the issue is ILLEGAL immigration, NOT immigration. We Americans already gave amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants nearly 25 years ago under the guise that our borders would be protected and our immigration laws enforced, neither occured and now we are being asked again to grant yet another path to citizenship to millions who have nothing but contempt for our laws. Not only that but we are being told that once this "path to citizenship" has happened our borders will be protected. Is it a wonder why the majority of Americans do not believe our government? I think its also a disgrace to imply anyone opposed to an amnesty plan is a "racist" or afraid of the hispanic. Enforce our borders and no more amnesty.

We love Oprah and 'O' factor will work out well here in NH.

Not a single Republican candidate has had the nerve to stand up with a real immigration proposal. McCain comes closest with his path to citizenship proposal. Everyone wants to "secure the border" but none of them has a bill in Congress to do it. A fence running from Laredo to San Diego would take years to build and would enrage Hispanic voters, whose agenda is to keep the border working like a revolving door. Everyone knows this, so everyone is talking tough and carrying a little stick.

The real strategy of our presidential candidates is to talk as little about the border and the deficit as possible.

First Bush was in bed with the Mexican government, now McCain wants to climb in and get his tootsie's warm on Calderon's back.

Can anyone please tell me how we can have such a massive illegal immigration problem while normal, every day, English-speaking Americans have to wait three hours to board their planes in American airports?

What I mean is: Has it ocurred to anyone that a terrorist may possibly take the illegal immigration route (which appears to be unsolvable), rather than walk through a Dulles airport gate and declare himself a terrorist? All a terrorist has to do is learn a little Spanish, and no problemo!

Is anyone else feeling just a tiny bit "insecure" in spite of all our "security"?

Well John, how about the rhetoric we hear from you. Your neocons aren't gonna like your supporting the hispanic vote by amnesty. Oh that's right it was billed as a path to citizenship. Few things do I agree on with this rediculous bunch, but immigration reform your pushing on the backs of American citizens and legal immigrants thru taxation is pathetic. Why is it that corporate America isn't gonna pay for this program of assimilation. They just want the profits. We want our jobs in this country and am very tired of politicians who listen to special interests about jobs Americans don't want. It is the pay scale we don't want. Quit playing the shell game and pandering for votes, your so Hillary. Start dealing with the issues that your constituents sent you to congress for.

Ron Paul was booed for saying he wants to talk to Castro and Chavez? What are we coming to? When did acting like a child and giving the silent treatment constitute diplomacy? I guess diplomacy these days means that the U.S. should saber rattle and then bomb the hell out of countries that don't suck up to us.

In behalf of 95% of the Hispanic Communities, I strongly protest because the decision of Univision, the Spanish network,to choice Miami as site to keep the GOP debate. Miami in no way, and much less the Cuban community represent the viewpoint of the overwhelmingly prodemocrat Hispanic communities. For instance, it's an insult for the Latino Community that a candidate as Mitt Romney, 3 weeks ago, in Tampa, promised to try to bring ALL THE CUBANS to the United States, while used a harsh and agressive attitude and vocabulary against the undocumented hispanics. I think it's not necessary to explain that during 47 years Cubans have enjoyed exclusively an absurd and discriminatory immigration privileges included cash benefits, courtesy of the Republican Party, totally denied to the rest of Hispanic Communities. But the GOP continues glued to the Cubans, pandering their votes but ignoring absolutely the needs and requirements of the rest of Latinos that represent the 90% of the Hispanic vote, nationwide. The election day is coming next year and Anglo politicians will get a lesson of the Hispanic American voters. We will vote in bloc pro democrat I forecast a noisy and convincing defeat of the GOP and their Cuban partners.

John,
What part of "illegal" do you not understand?

Borders, language, culture…….do you have a problem with that?

Mexico seems to understand borders, language, culture quite nicely, maybe you should run for president there.

Maybe Ted Kennedy could run for vice president.

Ron Paul came out looking the best from the debate

McCain's stand on this issue will cost him my vote, otherwise he's a winner. But illegal aliens are just that, illegal! And they need to be thrown out of the country. No amnesty, no excuses, no citizenship! If we don't, they'll completely drain our exconomy for welfare and handouts.