Presidential Debate: Rick Perry Defends Immigration Stance, Blasts GOP Candidates (VIDEO)

Rick Perry went on the defense on the topic of immigration during the Republican debate Thursday night, but stood behind his support for a bill that provided in-state tuition to some undocumented students.

"If you say that we should not educate children who have come into our state for no reason than they've been brought there, by no fault of their own, I don't think you have a heart," he said. "I still support it greatly."

The other candidates piled on Perry, criticizing him for his support for the in-state tuition bill. The bill allows some undocumented students, who went to high school in Texas and are working toward legal status, to qualify for in-state tuition at Texas state colleges.

"You're sort of making this leap that unless the taxpayers subsidize it they won't be able to go," Rick Santorum said. "The point is, why are we subsidizing this? … Why should they be given preferential treatment as an illegal in this country?"

"Yes, I would say that he is soft on illegal immigration," he added.

Perry's statements on the border fence were also a point of contention. While the others said the border must be secured with a fence, Perry argued a fence would not work as well as boots on the ground.

The most substantive question was about E-Verify, an employment verification program already used by federal agencies and contractors to screen for undocumented workers. Newt Gingrich said he would support making the program nationwide, as some House Republicans hope to do, and dismissed worries that it would cost employers.

"We'd be far better off to outsource E-Verify to American Express and Mastercard and Visa because they actually know how to run a program like that without massive fraud," Gingrich said. "Second, the program should be as easy as swiping your card to buy gasoline, so I would ask of employers, what is it you would object to?"

 

 

Comments

[Christine Pritchett]

05:34 AM on 10/15/2011

I am sick of some people thinking that in state tuition means free tuition. In state tuition means a person gets the lower cost of tuition one would get if one was a citizen. I see people on different sites saying that Perry wants to give free tuition to illegals, that is so wrong it is pathetic. I am a Texas resident. The state of Texas has never been good for giving anything away for free when it comes to socials programs, or anything else, for that matter, even at county hospitals where poor people get lowere cost treatment. i used to live in california. I used county hospitals, where no one had to pay if they had no job. In Texas the county hospitals are run with an insurance program, one still pays if they have no job, but they may pay the base fee copay of only $10.00 . I had to clear this up becasue I am sick of Perry getting a unfair rap because many people are misunderstanding what in state tuition is.

[Faelsun]

03:22 AM on 09/27/2011

Open immigration with Canada or a civilized country is one thing but open immigration with this...

http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2011/04/terror-in-tepic-two-men-skinned-alive.html

Is another thing altogether. I am sorry I am center left on most issues but I refuse to bite the bullet on this, Mexico is just too violent to have an open door policy with.

[Vivicca Whitsett]

02:43 PM on 09/26/2011

It makes absolutely no sense to grant "in state" tuition to illegals. If that's the case then all legal Americans should be granted the "in state" fee regardless of where they live. smh

[Kerensa West]

01:51 AM on 09/25/2011

This all reminds me of the Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaner!

WE WORK HARD SO YOU DON"T HAVE TOO.....

[Kerensa West]

01:59 AM on 09/25/2011

and then down the drain...

[Ken Overholt]

12:02 AM on 09/25/2011

There he goes again. The more he speaks the more the US public realizes just how wrong he is on so many subjects. He may speak of his concern for those poor immagrant children, but it is obvious that he is more concerned about courting the latino vote. He is against the fence in favor of boots on the ground. So what is the problem with using both. The Great Wall of China was pretty effective in it's day. It all comes down to needing a President who is willing and able to enforce the immigration laws lready on the books. Illegal immigrants and their families need to be arrested and deported ASAP. The laws are on the books for a reaso. Enforce them.

[TxMom52]

01:26 PM on 09/25/2011

So glad I never even considered voting for Ricky-Bobby for Tx Governor!! You can damn sure belive that I will help vote him of office!!!!!

[TxMom52]

01:27 PM on 09/25/2011

out of office that is

[massjim]

06:26 PM on 09/24/2011

I'm a legal citizen, with a child approaching college age. We would not get in-state tuition, but would have to pay thousands more. This makes no sense.

[LickDaCat]

11:57 AM on 09/24/2011

Why are all my comments censored? Do they do this to everybody, or just those who are not brainwashed and can think?

I have noticed this to be policy in all liberal websites where truth websites do not censor comments. This must be to protect those brainwashed by the MSM from hearing the truth.

[Anonani]

08:28 PM on 09/24/2011

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[LickDaCat]

11:54 AM on 09/24/2011

This leaves Perry who was chosen by Bilderberg to be the next president the only candidate the MSM will promote.

Illegal immigration is being used by the zionist shadow government to divide and conquer the USA.

[azlegalcitizen]

01:51 AM on 09/26/2011

You are soooooo dumb I am dumbfounded.

[follygirl]

09:43 AM on 09/24/2011

Perry doesn't have a heart either. He just like cheap labor.

[sal ear]

02:41 AM on 09/24/2011

Could it be that Rick Perry is a wacky zany crazy guy who says whatever pops into his head at any given moment? Could it be that Perry escaped from a Carnival, then moved on to become Governor of TX? He always seems so jovial - a sure sign of disconnect w/reality.

[Luke Morrison]

02:04 AM on 09/24/2011

Don’t like that the Dream Act sanctions/­rewards illegal immigratio­n? Me neither. So I’ve decided to do something about it. I'm in the initial stages of readying a court appeal as well as a petition initiative that would get a measure on the ballot where voters can take a stand for our students in need of money for school, and against the Dream Act. There are many California­ns whose dreams depend on these public funds being there for them, but will be less likely to get it thanks to legislatio­n like the Dream Act, which opens the floodgates to anyone and everyone from other countries to come in illegally and claim these precious resources for themselves­. There are countless stories of people in California who dream about college but cannot afford it. If the Dream Act is passed, these American citizens will have an even harder time achieving their dreams. They need help. They need a voice. Stand up for California­. Stand up for us and our children. Do not let them pay the cost for the decision of some to enter the country illegally.

http://www­.facebook.­com/S.O.S....

Show your support by “liking” the page. It’s important for people to see just how many of us there are out there. It is critical that people speak up on the issue and SPREAD THE WORD. We are not helpless. We can do something about it.

Thanks

[cliffydoobie]

10:27 AM on 09/24/2011

Nope.

[BrokeInSoCal]

12:45 PM on 09/25/2011

Ironic that I was denied to apply to California state colleges because I already have 1 bachelors degree and that the schools are impacted. Guess they have to make room for The Dream Act.

[wordsalad12]

11:17 PM on 09/23/2011

Once they realize Perry cannot be clearly categorized to their liking, he is going to become unpopular with the TP. It feels like both sides are going to start eyeing him uncomfortably - a Manchurian candidate? But a detriment to which interests?

[sal ear]

02:47 AM on 09/24/2011

A Manchur? I sense he has fleeting, dramatic mood swings & as a result, he states various disjointed but heartfelt & zany ideas/comments. I suspect he's crazy.

Also crazy & MEAN AS A SNAKE! = M Bachman

[dragonladywaltham]

11:03 PM on 09/23/2011

Fellow Republicans do not have a heart but you have REALLY deep pockets.

[zachviking]

07:43 PM on 09/23/2011

I think immigration cuts both ways for progressives. We have a natural desire to be compassionate to our fellow human beings, especially those who want the opportunity to work hard and give their families a better life. On the other hand, undocumented workers have violated the rules and they help keep salaries lower in certain economic sectors, which hurts the middle class. Plus these are jobs that could be performed by the millions of unemployed individuals in this country. As a country, we have an absolute right to control our borders and decide who can get access to this country by whatever criteria we decide. Seeing the personal hardship in terms of time and money that legal immigrants have to undergo to gain US citizenship, it seems unfair to grant residence/ citizenship to those who broke the rules without paying a severe penalty. If we really do not want undocumented workers in this country, people need to be willing to pay more for their food, more for construction costs, as well as many other goods and services.

[wordsalad12]

11:14 PM on 09/23/2011

well put! F/F

[bobbrowntown]

12:42 AM on 09/24/2011

I think you are right on so many levels, but if you look at children who were brought over by their parents who have never worked but who want to work and be productive members of society you have to realize that we have to find some middle ground somewhere. The children did not have a choice, they also have much to contribute. The other fact is that by keeping workers illeagal we continue to encourage their exploitation by employers who have no interest in improving working conditions. If we are truely progressive we will support workers rights legal and undocumented and leave the children out of the discussion.

[des946]

08:22 AM on 09/24/2011

Well, children of embezzlers, murders, or of parents who commit crimes and are sent to jail, suffer because of thewrongdoings of the parents. That is just an unfortunate fact of life . . . BUT the children's prlights are the responsibility and th fault of THEIR PARENTS. Do we have "special tuition programs" for children whose parents have committed crimes and been incarcerateed? NO. So what amkes a "special case" for illegal aliens who are in our country illegally?

[playnotwork]

07:09 PM on 09/23/2011

What, exactly, are the taxpayers paying for in this situation?

[zachviking]

07:26 PM on 09/23/2011

I think the claim is that Texas loses about $100,000 in tuition money from illegal/ undocumented students who are allowed to qualify as in state residents and thus pay in state tuition, as opposed to paying out of state tuition which a legal immigrant/ citizen from another state would have to pay.

[bobbrowntown]

12:47 AM on 09/24/2011

lets define losers first. A capable student works picking cotton who could be the finest cancer researcher. your sister dies because he did not have a chance to come up with the cure. In that case we have lost lives. What is that worth? I don't care for rick perry much but I think he at least understands that.

[des946]

08:27 AM on 09/24/2011

. . . and any American citizen student from another state has to pay an "out of state tuition fee", right? So, American citizens are charged more in tuition than the children of illegal aliens . . . . that is just plain WRONG! These people need to be sent back to their native countries. And we need to change our citizenship laws to require that at least one parent has to be an American citizen BEFORE American citizenship is given to new born children. The USA is the only country that I know of that gives citizenship based solely upon the place of birth. The citizenship laws desperately need to be changed.