Ron Paul on Immigration

[peejay 327]

Ron Paul on Immigration

by John Stossel

Posted 01/03/2008 ET

Updated 01/03/2008 ET

I'd heard that that presidential candidate Ron Paul was "hard line" on immigration and "to the right" of the Republican field. But that's not exactly what he revealed during my interview with him. Here's Part 4 of my edited interview.

John Stossel: You want a 700-mile fence between our border and Mexico?

Ron Paul: Not really. There was an immigration bill that had a fence (requirement) in it, but it was to attack amnesty. I don't like amnesty. So I voted for that bill, but I didn't like the fence. I don't think the fence can solve a problem. I find it rather offensive.

John Stossel: What should we do?

Ron Paul: Get rid of the subsidies. (If) you subsidize illegal immigration, you get more of it.

John Stossel: Get rid of welfare?

Ron Paul: All the welfare benefits.

John Stossel: Including government-paid health care?

Ron Paul: Absolutely.

John Stossel: So what should a hospital do if an illegal immigrant shows up for treatment?

Ron Paul: Be charitable, but have no mandates by the federal government. Catholics want to help a lot of these people. I'm not for (punishing anyone who wants to help voluntarily). But we wouldn't have so many (illegals) if they didn't know they were going to get amnesty. If you promise them amnesty -- medical care, free education, automatic citizenship, food stamps, and Social Security -- you're going to get more (illegal immigration). I think we could be much more generous with our immigration. (But) we don't need to reward people who get in front of the line.

John Stossel: We should be more generous in our legal immigration policy?

Ron Paul: (Without the welfare state) it would be a non-issue. Today it's a big issue because people are hurting; they can't keep up with paying their bills. They see (illegals) using food stamps, in the emergency rooms, demanding bilingual education in the schools. The costs are going up.

John Stossel: So get rid of all those programs? Every one?

Ron Paul: I would. Get rid of the incentives and work toward a real solution.

John Stossel: You oppose "birthright citizenship," which says that the child of an illegal immigrant who gives birth in America is a U.S. citizen. But that right to citizenship is in the Constitution, isn't it?

Ron Paul: There's confusion on interpreting the 14th Amendment. It says that if you're under the jurisdiction of the United States, you have a right to citizenship if you're born here. But it's a little bit confusing. If you step over the border and you're illegal, are you really under the jurisdiction? There's a question on that, and I want to clarify it. I don't like to reward people who sneak in for that purpose and get on the welfare rolls.

John Stossel: What about the millions who are here illegally already? Should we deport them?

Ron Paul: I don't think anybody could find them. Nobody even knows how many there are. But if they come for welfare benefits and you know they're illegal, (you should) deny them the benefits. If they commit a crime, send them home. Today in many cities, you're not even allowed to ask them their immigrant status. Policemen tell me they can't ask that question to find out if they're illegal. It's politically incorrect to ask a person his immigrant status because that would (be like saying), "If you've broken the law, maybe you ought to go home."

John Stossel: How do you see immigration in the future?

Ron Paul: If we have a healthy economy, we would probably have a lot of people coming back and forth working in this country. There was a time when (immigrants did that). That was when they didn't expect to get easy amnesty.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24268

[churipu 4]

I Ron!

[Dan J 277]

He is right that a fence wont do anything to change the problem. But he thinks the reason why illegal immigrants come to this country are for the social welfare benefits. Which is completely wrong. Even if you got rid of them, there would still be a lot of people trying to come here to work. If you want to get rid of subsidies, you need to get rid of the agriculture ones, and all tariffs on agriculture trade. That way instead of importing labor to do our farming, we can do the farming in other countries, and people can find work at home.

[SupportOAFJF 0]

Get rid of all government help ? Can illegals even get benefits from the government ? what about the children who are born to the illegal USC ?

He is right that a fence wont do anything to change the problem. But he thinks the reason why illegal immigrants come to this country are for the social welfare benefits. Which is completely wrong. Even if you got rid of them, there would still be a lot of people trying to come here to work. If you want to get rid of subsidies, you need to get rid of the agriculture ones, and all tariffs on agriculture trade. That way instead of importing labor to do our farming, we can do the farming in other countries, and people can find work at home.

Why get rid of them if the job can be done for way less and provide no benefits to the workers?

[Caladan 19]

He is right that a fence wont do anything to change the problem. But he thinks the reason why illegal immigrants come to this country are for the social welfare benefits. Which is completely wrong. Even if you got rid of them, there would still be a lot of people trying to come here to work. If you want to get rid of subsidies, you need to get rid of the agriculture ones, and all tariffs on agriculture trade. That way instead of importing labor to do our farming, we can do the farming in other countries, and people can find work at home.

Ron Paul's a libertarian and actually pretty friendly to illegal immigrants (compared to the rest of the field.) He doesn't believe in welfare benefits for anyone, really, so this is how he can sound tough on immigration. Getting rid of welfare benefits for Americans just so illegals won't use them seems to belong the bathwater, babies category or the nose, spiting face category.

Anyhow, the attraction's the immense economic opportunity. Without that going away, people will still be willing to take their chances. I'd rather see laws to that effect, both on the employer and on the fair trade side.

Get rid of all government help ? Can illegals even get benefits from the government ? what about the children who are born to the illegal USC ?

Not usually, no. People are either lying about their eligibility or taking advantage of loopholes.

[SupportOAFJF 0]

He is right that a fence wont do anything to change the problem. But he thinks the reason why illegal immigrants come to this country are for the social welfare benefits. Which is completely wrong. Even if you got rid of them, there would still be a lot of people trying to come here to work. If you want to get rid of subsidies, you need to get rid of the agriculture ones, and all tariffs on agriculture trade. That way instead of importing labor to do our farming, we can do the farming in other countries, and people can find work at home.

Ron Paul's a libertarian and actually pretty friendly to illegal immigrants (compared to the rest of the field.) He doesn't believe in welfare benefits for anyone, really, so this is how he can sound tough on immigration. Getting rid of welfare benefits for Americans just so illegals won't use them seems to belong the bathwater, babies category or the nose, spiting face category.

Anyhow, the attraction's the immense economic opportunity. Without that going away, people will still be willing to take their chances. I'd rather see laws to that effect, both on the employer and on the fair trade side.

Get rid of all government help ? Can illegals even get benefits from the government ? what about the children who are born to the illegal USC ?

Not usually, no. People are either lying about their eligibility or taking advantage of loopholes.

That's what I thought, And I agree with you about getting rid of the nose to spite the face thing. How would that benefit anyone. Let us not forget that there are unfortunate USC in this country how would they survive when this happens, and also unfortunate turns happen in people's lives to no fault of their own sometimes and all they have to turn to is the government for help. I don't think illegals come here JUST to get government benefits at all..

[rebeccajo 14]

He is right that a fence wont do anything to change the problem. But he thinks the reason why illegal immigrants come to this country are for the social welfare benefits. Which is completely wrong. Even if you got rid of them, there would still be a lot of people trying to come here to work. If you want to get rid of subsidies, you need to get rid of the agriculture ones, and all tariffs on agriculture trade. That way instead of importing labor to do our farming, we can do the farming in other countries, and people can find work at home.

Ron Paul's a libertarian and actually pretty friendly to illegal immigrants (compared to the rest of the field.) He doesn't believe in welfare benefits for anyone, really, so this is how he can sound tough on immigration. Getting rid of welfare benefits for Americans just so illegals won't use them seems to belong the bathwater, babies category or the nose, spiting face category.

Anyhow, the attraction's the immense economic opportunity. Without that going away, people will still be willing to take their chances. I'd rather see laws to that effect, both on the employer and on the fair trade side.

Get rid of all government help ? Can illegals even get benefits from the government ? what about the children who are born to the illegal USC ?

Not usually, no. People are either lying about their eligibility or taking advantage of loopholes.

That's what I thought, And I agree with you about getting rid of the nose to spite the face thing. How would that benefit anyone. Let us not forget that there are unfortunate USC in this country how would they survive when this happens, and also unfortunate turns happen in people's lives to no fault of their own sometimes and all they have to turn to is the government for help. I don't think illegals come here JUST to get government benefits at all..

The Libertarian party doesn't believe in government programs. It's a fundamental foundation of the party.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

He is right that a fence wont do anything to change the problem. But he thinks the reason why illegal immigrants come to this country are for the social welfare benefits. Which is completely wrong. Even if you got rid of them, there would still be a lot of people trying to come here to work. If you want to get rid of subsidies, you need to get rid of the agriculture ones, and all tariffs on agriculture trade. That way instead of importing labor to do our farming, we can do the farming in other countries, and people can find work at home.

Amen.

[SupportOAFJF 0]

The Libertarian party doesn't believe in government programs. It's a fundamental foundation of the party.

Can I say I love ur siggy quote if all stood that concept

[rebeccajo 14]

The Libertarian party doesn't believe in government programs. It's a fundamental foundation of the party.

Can I say I love ur siggy quote if all stood that concept

Thanks. Pooh is really quite smart.

[SupportOAFJF 0]

The Libertarian party doesn't believe in government programs. It's a fundamental foundation of the party.

Can I say I love ur siggy quote if all stood that concept

Thanks. Pooh is really quite smart.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I Ron!

Me too.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

[Kevin and 10]

I Ron!

[no name 1]

He is right that a fence wont do anything to change the problem. But he thinks the reason why illegal immigrants come to this country are for the social welfare benefits. Which is completely wrong. Even if you got rid of them, there would still be a lot of people trying to come here to work.

And there'd be a helluva a lot leaving. Esp if you took away birthright citizenship!