Pressed on Immigration Reform, Rick Perry Offers No Clear Answer
EmailRick Perry did not offer a clear answer when pressed on how he would handle immigration reform during an interview Tuesday night. Continually asked by Greta Van Susteren of Fox News to pinpoint a solution, the Texas governor would not offer one.
“I know it’s one that people ask a lot and the fact is it’s just an intellectual conversation until we secure the border,” Perry said on “On the Record,” Van Susteren’s show. She asked how he would deal with the 11 million-plus illegal immigrants currently residing in the country.
“What would you do? What would you do?” Van Susteren continued to ask.
“I’m not going to sit here and go through and talk about all the different options because there may be some ideas that haven’t been talked about yet, so I’m going to stick with folks like Sheriff Arpaio who is with me today and who is endorsing my candidacy, and work on securing the border, because until you get the border secure, all of these issues about immigration reform are frankly just intellectual engagement,” Perry said.
“You know, governor, with all due respect, I think that’s half an answer,” Van Susteren said.
“I think I’ve laid out a number of concepts and ideas. I don’t know which of those the American people want and that’s the reason we need to have this long and lengthy conversation,” Perry said later in the interview. “I don’t know if I have all of the right answers and one thing I have learned on this very volatile issue of immigration and immigration reform, we need to talk to the American people, we need to get their input, we need to listen to them.”
Perry spent the majority of his day in New Hampshire flanked by Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, discussing immigration and border security. The Texas governor suggested any illegal immigrants who are apprehended by law enforcement officials should be detained and deported and adamantly said he would not support any form of amnesty, though he left the door open on how to deal with the current illegal immigrant population in the United States.
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Nor should he.
There will have to be a mix of solutions to those in the country illegally. Nothing matters, of course, until the border is genuinely closed to illegal traffic, anyway.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | November 29, 2011, 11:30 pm 11:30 pm
Joe Arpaio has a good name, and I would wonder what sort of deal he struck with Perry. But Perry.. he has simply flubbed too much.
Posted by: Joel Wischkaemper | November 30, 2011, 12:01 am 12:01 am
Hey Republi-minions…Rick Perry’s solution to illegal immigration is this… “line up 999 electrified women I’ve flirted with along the border (so far we have 5)”…. oops, sorry Republi-minions, that was Herman Cain’s solution. My mistake…(hehehe!)
Posted by: Republicans = a BUNCH of Forrest Gumps | November 30, 2011, 4:08 am 4:08 am
In another 10-15 years all the today’s kids of undocumented parents will turn 18. They will be able to vote, at 21 they will be able to bring their deported parents back, as there no visa limits for immediate family members of American citizens. Is it realy smart to spend all the money to deport people today just to get them back in 10-15 years? Is it realy smart to put another 4 500
000 American citizen children in foster care after deporting their parents? American taxpayers will have to pay to deport parents of 4 500 000 American citizen children. Then they will have to pay to feed, cloth, house and educate 4 500 000 American citizen children, provide them with medical care for the next 10-15 years. Then all the deported parents will be back, applying for SSI and welfare based on physiological depression triggered by deportation and separation from
their children and spouses for decades. There probably will be some kind of compensation from the Government like American Japanese got for being detained in camps during World War Two. What is more humane and more beneficial for the economy: spend trillions of dollars on
deportations and social services only to get all the deportees back in 15 years, or stop the deportations and Reform the Immigration system? Bringing people from the shadows will strengthen the consumer base and jump start the economy. It had always happened in the past.
Posted by: Masha | November 30, 2011, 9:56 am 9:56 am
republicans have not any answer.why they cant just get it,this guy dont know what is the real age for voting?illegal immigrants knows what is the reak age for voting.and whoever wants to kick out illegal immigrants ask americans they wanna do job in farming?foget abt farming most americans dont do any fast food job for long time.just shut up and let them stay.
Posted by: sal | November 30, 2011, 11:10 am 11:10 am
In another 10-15 years all the today’s kids of undocumented parents will turn 18.
Posted by: Masha | November 30, 2011, 9:56 am.
Every single day, right now, children of illegal immigrants turn 18. Illegal immigrants have been coming here for many decades. This isn’t a new phenomenon………….
Posted by: Searambler | November 30, 2011, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm
I believe that if the parent is deported and refuses to take the child they lose (or should lose) parental rights. Once they lose parental rights, their children can’t bring them back.
Posted by: Halibut | November 30, 2011, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm
CBS Evening News featured a report on Alabama’s tough new immigration law. The report centered around a family that has been here illegally for 13 years, and portrayed them as living in fear, but brave enough to stay an fight an unjust law. (NewsBusters 11/24).
NBC Evening News’ Brian Williams and Kate Snow reported on Alabama’s new immigration law, brazenly comparing it to segregationist laws of the past with Snow stating, “They feel like Alabama blacks of the Jim Crow era.” (NewsBusters 11/15).
NPR ran a report from a pro-amnesty rally, comparing illegal immigrants being made to follow U.S. laws with victims of a civil rights era bombing in the 1960s. (NewsBusters 11/22).
MSNBC contributor Melissa Harris-Perry took the week of Thanksgiving to make the on-air declaration that the Pilgrims were illegal immigrants. (NewsBusters 11/26).
The pro-illegal media conglomerates must be STOPPED. They are broadcasting opinion disguised as news and poisoning the minds of millions of Americans. Please sign the petition and send it to your friends. To be sent to U.S. Congressional leaders. Petition goal: 50,000 signatures
Go to: grassrootsactionDOTcom/403/petition/asp
Posted by: ZOO | December 1, 2011, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm
I must agree, something needs to be done regarding immigration reform. And to believe that undocumented do not pay taxes is just dumb! Undocumented have been provided with an ITIN which is a tax identification number instead of having social security which many of them are able to pay taxes but at the end sees no benefits. Not even the benefit of going to college! Reform soon!!!!
Posted by: B. D. | January 4, 2012, 8:45 pm 8:45 pm