Byron York: Perry, Romney at odds on immigration
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, September 13, 2011
A fight over the future of Social Security has emerged as a key feature of the struggle between Republican presidential candidates Rick Perry and Mitt Romney. But there is another issue that divides the two and has not received enough attention: immigration.
In the Sept. 7 Republican debate, Perry, governor of a border state for more than a decade, didnít have much to say about immigration. When asked how he would secure the U.S.-Mexican border, his answer was ěboots on the groundî ó Border Patrol agents ó and more unmanned drone aircraft. That was about all Perry had to say, beyond criticizing President Obama. ěFor the president of the United States to go to El Paso, Texas, and say that the border is safer than itís ever been, either he has some of the poorest intel of a president in the history of this country, or he was an abject liar to the American people,î Perry said. ěIt is not safe on that border.î
But what to do about it? Romney was more prepared for the question. First, he called for a fence along the border. Then, he called for more U.S. agents to secure the fence. And then he called for measures to turn off what he called the ěmagnetî drawing illegal immigrants to the United States. ěSanctuary cities, giving tuition breaks to the kids of illegal aliens, employers that knowingly hire people who are here illegally ó those things also have to be stopped,î Romney said.
Romney seemed clearly ready for a confrontation with Perry over immigration, but the debate moved on, and the moment passed. But there will be a reckoning, and probably soon, because on a number of key immigration issues, Perryís positions will alienate a significant part of the Republican primary electorate. Romney or some other candidate is sure to take advantage of that.
Start with the border fence. Perry opposes it. ěBuilding a wall on the entire border is a preposterous idea,î he said recently in New Hampshire. ěThe only thing a wall would possibly accomplish is to help the ladder business.î Perry says he supports some forms of ěstrategic fencing in certain urban areas,î but thatís all.
Then there are measures to stop employers from hiring illegals. Perry opposes E-Verify, which is a program requiring employers to check the legal status of new hires. It has been very effective in stopping the hiring of illegals, but Perry does not support requiring private businesses to use it, and he doesnít want state agencies in Texas to use it, either. ěE-Verify would not make a hill of beansí difference in whatís happening today,î Perry said in a 2010 debate.
Then there is taxpayer-subsidized, in-state tuition for illegal immigrants. Perry signed the Texas Dream Act in 2001 making it the law in Texas. ěWe must say to every Texas child learning in a Texas classroom, ëWe donít care where you came from, but where you are going,íî Perry said at the time. ěThe message is simple: Educacion es el futuro, y si se puede.î Perry still supports the measure.
Finally, there is the question of guest workers. ěI support a guest worker program that takes undocumented workers off the black market and legitimizes their economic contributions without providing them citizenship status,î Perry said in 2006. ěA guest worker program that provides foreign workers with an ID removes the incentive for millions of people to illegally enter our country.î To critics, thatís just amnesty with a different label.
Perry does oppose sanctuary cities, but on the other hand, he has been critical of the new Arizona immigration law, which has widespread support in the Republican base.
Immigration was a red-hot issue among Republican voters in 2007 and 2008. It almost killed the candidacy of Sen. John McCain, who had to retreat from his advocacy of comprehensive immigration reform and take up an enforcement-first position. Now, it could be that, given the breadth and depth of todayís economic worries, immigration is a less important issue among Republicans. But reports from the campaign trail suggest it comes up a lot in the candidatesí question-and-answer sessions, and voters mostly want to hear tough positions that are the opposite of Perryís.
A challenge on immigration is in the offing for Perry. How he handles it could determine the success or failure of his candidacy.
Byron York is chief political correspondent for The Washington Examiner.