Fred Thompson on Immigration Former Republican Senator (TN)

Special status for illegals disrespects legal immigrants

A: Because we have to enforce our borders, and we have to uphold the law. There are millions of people who have stood in line in US embassies around the world, waiting to become American citizens, waiting to become legal residents of the US. But when they finally come here, and when they are joined by those people in Latin America who have often fought tyranny, who have fought against the Castro regime, who have come here and risked their lives to become US citizens, when all those people come here, they become a part of us; they become a part of our family. It would disrespect them if we said other people who had not obeyed the law and had not gone through the process, to set them above them and to give them special status above those who have obeyed the law and fought so hard to become good American citizens and legal residents.

Focus on chain migration, not anchor babies

A: Our courts have ruled that such babies born here are US citizens. That’s part of the 14th Amendment as has been interpreted by the courts. I believe that the concentration should not be on the concern of waiting until that child grows up and serves as an anchor baby, as we hear so much talk about. I believe the concern should be chain migration. Right now, we have a situation where people can bring in spouses, children, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers and so forth. I think that people should be able to serve as a basis for the bringing in of their spouses and of their children, but I do not think there should be endless chain migration. So I think that is the issue to focus on, and not innocent children who are born here not of their own accord and who our courts have said our US citizens.

Pledges to veto any immigration bill that involves amnesty

A: Yes, I pledge that. A nation that cannot and will not defend its own borders will not forever remain a sovereign nation. And it’s unfair.

Voted for law to abolish sanctuary cities

GIULIANI: New York City had a policy of allowing people who are illegal immigrants to report crime and to put their children in school. Otherwise, we reported every single illegal immigrant that committed a crime. The results were pretty darn good. I brought down crime by over 60%. I brought down homicide by 67%. I had the most legal city in the country. And I took the crime capital of America and I turned it into the safest large city in the country. The senator has never had executive responsibility. He’s never had the weight of people’s safety and security on his shoulders. I have. And I think I out-performed any expectations.

Secure our borders and end “sanctuary cities”

• Securing our borders and enforcing immigration laws. Amnesty is not an option and the toleration of “sanctuary cities” must end.
• Reviewing our immigration laws and policies to ensure they advance our national interests.
• Uniting Americans by welcoming legal immigrants willing to learn English, assimilate into our communities, and become productive citizens.

Protecting our border is part of being a sovereign nation

Eliminate welfare incentives for illegal immigrants

• OPPOSED the McCain-Kennedy Immigration Reform Bill.
• OPPOSES amnesty for illegal immigrants.
• SUPPORTS tougher border control along the US/Mexican border.
• SUPPORTS increased penalties against alien smuggling and document fraud.
• Voted For the “Illegal Immigration Reform & Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.”
• Thompson said, “Most Americans know that we have an illegal immigration problem in this country, with perhaps as many as 20 million people residing here unlawfully. And I think most Americans have a pretty good idea about how to at least start solving the problem--secure our nation’s borders.”

Immigration reform failed because feds lost credibility

Immigration in large part has to do with national security

Opposes amnesty in any form

Nation loses sovereignty if it cannot secure its own borders

We know that the overwhelming majority of illegals come across the Mexican border. Fortunately, we’ve got someone who is all too willing to tell us what we should do about it -- president Calderon of Mexico.

Pres. Calderon criticizes our efforts to secure the border with things such as border fencing. He apparently thinks we should do nothing except make American citizens out of his constituents.

I think its time for a little plain talk to the leaders of Mexico. Something like: Hey guys, you’re our friends and neighbors and we love you but it’s time you had a little dose of reality. A sovereign nation loses that status if it cannot secure its own borders and we are going to do whatever is necessary to do so.

Can’t round up 12M illegals, so focus on preventing next 12M

A: No, no.

Q: You said last year about illegals, “You’re going to have to, in some way, work out a deal where they can have some aspirations of citizenship but not make it so easy that it’s unfair to the people waiting in line and abiding by the law.” And you said, “Look, it’s just not realistic that we’re going to round up 12 million people and ship them all out of the country.”

A: Well, that’s true, as a general statement. We woke up one day after years of neglect and apparently discovered that we have somewhere between 12 million and 20 million illegal aliens in this country. So it became an impossible situation to deal with. I mean, there’s really no good solution. So what do you do? You have to start over. Well, I’m concerned about the next 12 million or 20 million. So that’s why enforcement, and enforcement at the border, has to be primary.

Voted YES on allowing more foreign workers into the US for farm work.

Voted YES on visas for skilled workers.

Voted YES on limit welfare for immigrants.