Giuliani Talks Immigration and Self Reliance in Appeal to Latino Voters

ABC News’ Tahman Bradley Reports: In a speech before the Latino Coalition, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani R-N.Y., suggested that America’s immigration challenge should be viewed as a security issue and that the U.S. "has to be concerned about who is coming into this country and why they’re coming in here."

Giuliani said the U.S. "needs a fence," and that everybody entering the country should be identified through tough enforcement of boarder laws.

Although he was vague about what he would do with the 11 million illegal immigrants living and working within the U.S. today, Giuliani made it clear he does not favor "amnesty." "Of course we shouldn’t have amnesty," he said. "If somebody who has been here has violated the law- if somebody wants to come forward is now contributing, will contribute in the future, then they should not get ahead of anybody who is here legally. They should have to be at the back of the line."

Giuliani’s remarks came on a day when immigration reform activists held nationwide rallies.

Beyond opening up on his immigration views, Giuliani, who tops national polls among 2008 Republican presidential hopefuls, used his Tuesday speech in Washington, DC to make a direct appeal to Latino voters. The former mayor said he’s learned "the place that the Republican party would grow the fastest and the best was in the Latino community."

Insisting he does not have a program for different groups, Giuliani talked about his record of reducing taxes and his belief in programs "of self reliance," which allow individuals to take personal responsibility for their own actions.