John McCain Slams Mitt Romney's 'Self-Deportation,' Advocates 'Humane Approach' To Immigration

In an interview on Sunday with Univision, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) criticized Mitt Romney's "self-deportation" immigration policy, stating that Republicans should adopt a "very humane approach" to immigration in order to secure Latino voters.

McCain, who does not support the Dream Act, said that Republicans should address the problems posed by border insecurity, but also must consider the human side to the issue of the country's 12 million undocumented immigrants, as well as the impact that aggressive reform policies may have on the party's ability to win over voters.

"I think that it has to be a very humane approach to this issue, and we have to come up with solutions to it," said McCain. "But we also have to do something about the drugs that are coming across our southern border that are killing our kids."

McCain expressed a similar sentiment in an interview with CNN in December, warning that states with large Hispanic populations like Arizona and New Mexico could be "up for grabs."

When asked by Univision's Jorge Ramos if "self-deportation" is humane, McCain replied, "No. I think there are some people who want to leave this country and return to the country they came from, but obviously it requires a broader solution that that, and we all know that."

Romney outlined his immigration plan in a January debate and highlighted the idea of "self-deportation, which is when people decide that they can do better by going home because they can't find work here." As ThinkProgress pointed out, this idea is central to anti-immigration laws in Arizona and Alabama.

McCain, who endorsed Romney in January and has made campaign stops on behalf of the former Massachusetts governor, is not the first Republican to distance himself from the candidate's immigration comments. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), a Cuban-American Romney supporter, said that the "self-deportation" comment was "frankly a bad choice of words." Presidential rival Newt Gingrich also attacked the plan, stating that Romney "shows no concern for the humanity of the people who are already here."

Watch the full clip:

Comments

[carlosiic]

04:21 PM on 02/08/2012

The humane approach is to finally deem the Mexican government accountable for their own people, Mexico, has the second largest GDP in Latin America, Brasil is first. Mexico is the 14th. largest economy (measured by GDP) in the world, bigger than that of Netherlands, South Korea, and Turkey. In spite of that tremendous wealth, it is a failed state. If it wasn't for the opportunities available in the US, including illegal immigration. Mexico would be a major "guerrilla" breeder. But the less privileged, the 99.9% of Mexico are the ones living the misery, while the few haves share the riches with the American 2%counterpart who exploit and enslave undocumented immigrants in the US. Put pressure on the Mexican government for a 'humane" bi-lateral agreement on what to do with Mexican citizens with American children. Can the Mexican government sustainably take care of their citizens? The American people won't tolerate an unsustainable influx of refugees, while Mexican oligarchy and Mexican government enjoys a pleasant political paradise without worry about the welfare of their own citizens, the US government and its people should demand Mexican responsibility and accountability.

[FranklySpoken]

01:51 PM on 02/08/2012

Personally, I think that we are being overly generous for not charging them for their tickets back home with the clothes on their backs. We should also charge them court costs depending on how hard they fight deportation.

[Consequence]

01:19 PM on 02/08/2012

With the Obama economy tanking as bad as it has over the last couple of years, hundreds of thousands of illegals have self-deported back to Mexico and points south.

That phrase is actually quite accurate.

[Dick Young]

06:33 PM on 02/22/2012

Let's see . . . Bush had eight years, two unfunded wars, and several unfunded tax cuts to screw the economy up, and Obama's had three years and an obstructive Congress to get it fixed.

As for the Obama economy tanking - have you been looking at the job numbers lately?

[rt1027]

09:55 AM on 02/08/2012

no one cares what that old man says.......it is time to fade away

[Rob Paterson1]

02:54 AM on 02/08/2012

buck romney!

[RafaleMirage]

01:24 AM on 02/08/2012

Good ol' Juan McAmnesty can always be counted on to protect our poor, poor illegal aliens.

McCain never saw an amnesty for invaders he didn't like.

[hangdogit]

12:13 AM on 02/08/2012

"Self-deportation."

What fairy-tale, magical thinking -- like the Iraq War would be "self-funding."

Maybe Mitt is trying to out-do Gingrich's moon-colonization idea...

[Karissa36]

12:09 PM on 02/08/2012

It works. Ask Arizona.

[hangdogit]

09:35 PM on 02/08/2012

Romney in a 1/2012 debate:

“Well, the answer is self-deportation, which is people decide that they can do better by going home because they can't find work here because they don't have legal documentation to allow them to work here. And so we're not going to round people up," Romney said. "The way that we have in this society is to say, look, people who come here illegally would under my plan be given a transition period and the opportunity during that transition period to work here, but when that transition period was over, they would no longer have the documentation to allow them to work in this country."

The AZ law (under court review) is about the fear of arrest and possible deportation for BEING in AZ as an illegal immigrant, not for working there.

[HuffingtonPostFanOhio]

03:44 PM on 02/07/2012

"...have to do something about the drugs that are coming across our southern border that are killing our kids...". So first it was about securing the border (especially against terrorists). Then it was about preventing criminals from crossing. Now it's about drugs. Another delay tactic. BUT even if the drugs were stopped another country will fill the demand. McCain and many politicians live in a fantasy world when it comes to drugs. As long as there is demand someone will fill that demand.
Also, he advocates "humane treatment" but is against the DREAM Act. Wow...I wonder what in his mind "inhumane treatment" means then?

[Consequence]

02:59 PM on 02/07/2012

Hundreds of thousands of Ilegals have "self-deported" back to Mexico and points south over the last three years due to the pathetic Obama economy.

Just how exactly is Romney incorrect?

[rt1027]

09:57 AM on 02/08/2012

good.......there is one side benefit

[Azetoth]

02:42 PM on 02/07/2012

If you want to stop drugs, seriously, make them legal, and regulate the trade. Stop being stupid, old, and dense.

[PickOneTwoThree]

10:44 AM on 02/07/2012

Why did McCain 'endorse' Mitt Romney?

It sounds like he has more areas of agreement with Barack Obama than with Mitt Romney.

[Estreet1964]

10:41 AM on 02/07/2012

Well it just wouldn't be the Huffington Post without somebody "slamming" or "blasting" somebody else no would it?

[buflobil]

10:32 AM on 02/07/2012

Politics. Politics. McSame isn't very good at it.

[tommyg54]

10:30 AM on 02/07/2012

McCain should be put on the front porch and wait for his lunch.

[Obviator]

10:18 AM on 02/07/2012

Truly..the Grand Old Party! Maybe it's time for the Grand New Party.