GOP candidates on illegal immigration

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:22:31 -0500

The Republican candidates took strong positions against illegal immigration.

Fred Smith said that the state should have a "warm heart" welcoming immigrants but "firm hands" in dealing with illegal immigrants. He put forth four proposals: 1) Give every sheriff's department the ability to handle immigration, 2) only allow legal immigrants to get driver's licenses, 3) enact wide-ranging immigration reforms like Georgia and Colorado, and 4) require a voter ID card.

"If we're going to be a sovereign nation, we've got to protect our borders," he said.

Bill Graham argued that the state should start by deporting illegal immigrants who are in the state's jails and prisons. He said that illegal immigration is a burden on the state and county budgets.

"It's putting pressure on the hospitals, it's putting pressure on the schools, it's putting pressure on our infrastructure," he said.

Bob Orr said that local sheriffs should be able to handle immigration and proposed a "resident card" to allow state and local governments to deal more efficiently with legal immigration. But he also argued that the private sector is partly to blame, with Eastern Carolina farmers, Christmas tree farmers and the construction industry relying on illegal immigrant labor.

He said that the governor should bring those industries together to develop a program to allow immigrants to work here legally.

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GOP candidates on illegal immigration