Mitt Romney on Immigration
He Called Amnesty Plans "Reasonable" But Now Strongly Opposes

Summary:
Mitt Romney has been accused of flip-flopping on important conservatice issues, one of them being illegal immigration. Much like other candidates his views have gotten increasingly tougher on illegal immigration as the American people have voiced their concerns about the issue.

In the recent debates, Romney has taken on the establishment and campaigned that Washington is broken! His rhetoric speaks of the rule of law, of no amnesty, and toughness on the border. Is Romney the man to fix the federal government's immigration crisis? Romney's changing policies on immigration demand a closer look.

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On Amnesty-- Called It "Reasonable" But Now Does Not Support
Romney Video

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

•The Lowell Sun reported (12/2/2004) that Romney support amnesty and did in fact agree with the McCain-Kennedy Immigration Bill. Romney stated, " I don't believ in rounding up 11 million people and forcing them at gunpoint from out country. With thise 11 million people, let's have them registered, know who they are. Those who've been arrested or convicted of crimes shouldn't be here; those that are here paying taxes and not taking government benefits should begin a process towards application for citizenship, as they would from their home country. "

•In a November 2005 interview with the Boston Globe, Romney described the immigration proposals by McCain and others as "quite different" from amnesty, because they required illegal immigrants to register with the government, work for years, pay taxes, not take public benefits, and pay a fine before applying for citizenship. Roney did not specifcally endorse McCain's bill, but he did speak approvingly of efforts by MCCain, calling them "reasonable proposals." Link Also said in that same interview that it was not "practical or economic for the country" to deport the estimate 12 millinon immigratns living in the US illegally. "These people contribute in many cases to our economy and to out society... in some cases, they do not. But that's a whole group we're going to have to deal with.

Amnesty -- Does Not Support
•In a speech to conservatices in Washington (3.16.07) Romney stated, "The McCain-Kennedy Immigration bill is an amnesty plan that would reward people for breaking the law and cost taxpayers millinons to provide them benefits."
•Romney took strong action against illegal immigration as Massachusetts governor by vetoing a measure to grant in-state tuition rates to children of undocumented immigratns, opposing proposals to give driver's licenses to illegal immnigratns, and authorizing National Guard Troops to assist with border patrol.
•On Thursday May 17, 2007 Romeny blasted the Senate immigration bill agreements as "the wrong approach" for solving the problems of illegal immigration. "The bill falls short of the goals necessary to secure U.S. borders and ensure that corporations do not provide a safe have for illegals, regardless of the attraction of cheap labor. Any legislation that allows illegal immigrants to stay in the country indefinitely, as the new "Z-Visa" does, is a form of amensty...That is unfair to the millinos of people who have applie to legally immigrate to the U.S...I strongly oppose todaya's bill....It is the wrong approach." Link
•On Meet the Press (12.16.07) Romney was asked if illegal immigrants should be sent home? He replies, "They should go home eventually. They should have a set period during which they sign up for permanent residency or for citizenship. But there's a set period where upon they should return home. And if they've been approved for citizenship ....it will be a different matter. But for the great majority, they'll be going home.
•On May 15, 2007 during the 2007 Republican Debate in South Carolina, Romney said about his immigration policy: 1) Secure the border; 2) have an employment verfication system; and 3) say to those that are there illegally, get in line with everybody else. Link Source: 2007 Republican Debate in South Carolina May 15, 2007

When asked about the descrepancy between Romney's comments in 2005 and now, Romney's spokesman said: "Over the past year and a half, as the American people have learned all the details of the McCain-Kennedy approach, they have arrived at the same conclusion as Governor Romney: It rewards peopl who are here illegally."

Video from debates: