John McCain on Immigration
He Led The Push For Amnesty And Now Calls For Border Security First

Summary:
Sen. John McCain has been one of the leading proponents of the so-called "comprehensive" approach to immigration reform that combines border security and enforcement elements with amnesty for illegal aliens. In 2006, he co-authored the McCain-Kennedy Immigration comprehensive bill with Sen. Ted Kennedy and has consistently called for a compassionate approach that grants a path to citizenship for most illegal aliens currently living in this country.

Stung by the overwhelming defeat of the comprehensive amnesty both in 2006 and 2007, along with sagging poll numbers, as a presidential candidate McCain says he has "gotten the message" that the American people are demanding border security first. Still, McCain maintains his support for the amnesty and "path to citizenship" components of his original plan.

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On Amnesty-- Supports
In-State Tuition Benefits -- Supports
Border Fence -- Mixed
Social Security Benefits -- Supports
Website Platform
McCain Video

Candidate Immigration Briefings
McCain • Romney • Huckabee • Paul • Clinton • Obama

Amnesty -- Supports
McCain claims to have "never supported amnesty" but has a long record of leading the push for amnesty.
•Authored McCain-Kennedy Comprehensive immigration (S.211) reform plan (2006) that provided amnesty to the vast majority of illegal aliens currently in the country.
•Quoted in the Tucson Citizen (5/29/03) “Amnesty has to be an important part because there are people who have lived in this country for 20, 30 or 40 years, who have raised children here and pay taxes here and are not citizens. That has to be a component of it... I think we can set up a program where amnesty is extended to a certain number of people who are eligible and at the same time make sure that we have some control over people who come in and out of this country.” Link
•During 2006 immigration debate, said that illegal aliens had "grasped the lowest rung of our ladder. They want to rise, and we should let them. Let them come out of the shadows, pay a fine, stay employed, pay taxes, and earn their citizenship.” Link
•In January 2008, reaffirmed his support for his comprehensive amnesty plan calling for a "path to citizenship" during pre-New Hampshire primary:
Moderator to Sen. McCain: Don’t you still have the same plan for a path to citizenship that you fundamentally held months ago? A-Sure, but the fact is that the American people have lost trust and confidence in government and we have to secure the borders first.”
•Claims to have "never supported amnesty." (ABC's This Week, 12/30/07)

In-State Tuition for Illegals -- Supports
•Co-sponsored the DREAM Act which provided in-state college tuition benefits for illegal aliens.

Border Fence -- Record opposes, rhetoric supports
•Voted in favor of an amendment to S. 2611 that would have required the U.S. government to consult with the Mexican government on fence construction; many experts say such consultation would have crippled any fence construction plans.

Social Security Benefits for Illegals-- Supports
•Opposed an amendment in 2006 (the Ensign Amendment) that would have banned newly legalized illegal aliens from being credited with Social Security benefits for work done as illegal aliens. The amendment was defeated 50-49, meaning McCain's vote tipped the scale.

Website Platform
Immigration is one of those challenging issues that touch on many aspects of American life.

McCain On Immigration During Debates

McCain's Pro-Amnesty Hispanic Outreach Director

Senator McCain was not joking when he said that he had not changed his position on immigration. A man by the name of Juan Hernandez is Sen. McCain’s Hispanic Outreach Director. Mr. Hernandez is a dual American and Mexican citizen who was born in Texas, teaches at the University of Texas and was on the Vicente Fox Cabinet as the head of a Mexican bureaucracy called the “Presidential Office for Mexicans Abroad.” This position was designed to permit Hernandez to travel across the country, schmooze with local, state, and federal immigration enforcement “on behalf of illegal aliens in America. He lobbied for illegal alien driver’s licenses and Mexico first, defended Mexican bus operators carrying illegal aliens to the USA, and promoted extending banking privileges to illegal aliens.”

**This photo was found on McCain’s daughter’s campaign website. (Hernandez is in the suit and tie on the left).

How can Sen. McCain say that he is listening to the American people and choose a man like Juan Hernandez as his Hispanic National Director? This man’s views are not in the interest of the American people or the legal Hispanic immigrants. Just take a look at some of Juan Hernandez’s comments:

• “We must not only have a free flow of goods and service, but also start working for a free flow of people.”
• “I work for the community in the United States, the Mexican community because I don’t want them essentially going native on us. We want them continually tied emotionally, linguistically, politically to Mexico, because then they’ll continue to send money home.”
• On the United States and Mexico he states, “it’s not two countries; it’s just a region.”

Juan Hernandez does not believe in American sovereignty nor a secure border. He does advocate illegal immigration, amnesty, and open borders. Should John McCain have Juan Hernandez on his staff or does John McCain believe exactly how Hernandez believes? John McCain did say that his views on immigration have not changed since introducing his "amnesty" immigration plan. Thus, he must have the right man for the job, in Hernandez.

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