L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Slams Romney For Immigration Stance (VIDEO)

On Tuesday night, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa condemned Mitt Romney's immigration stance, calling it "far out of the mainstream" and out of line with former GOP leaders on The Rachel Maddow Show.

"He's taken positions that are so extreme, so far out of the mainstream, from where Republican party icon Ronald Reagan, [and] President Bush, George W. Bush were on this issue," the L.A. Mayor said.

Villaraigosa, a chair for the 2012 Democratic National Convention, said that Romney should find a more "humane" approach to solving the nation's immigration problems.

Some believe Romney's stance on various immigration-related issues will alienate Latino voters.

In a January debate, Romney championed an idea called "self-deportation" which entails making life hard enough for undocumented immigrants that they decide themselves to return home.

“Well, the answer is self-deportation, which is people decide 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," Romney said in a January debate.

Romney also campaigned with Kris Kobach, the architect of Arizona and Alabama's immigration laws -- the two harshest in the nation. The GOP candidate also labeled the law in Arizona a model for the entire country.

Romney also pledged to veto the DREAM Act, a measure supported by 91 percent of Latinos, according to a recent study conducted by The Pew Hispanic Center. The DREAM Act, if passed, would provide a path towards citizenship to some undocumented immigrants who have served in the military or attended college, and came to the U.S. at a young age.

Some Republicans fear that immigration, often an emotional issue for Hispanic voters, will be used by Democrats as wedge issue to keep Latinos from voting for Romney.

Carlos Gutierrez, former Bush commerce secretary and Mitt Romney supporter, says that Latinos naturally have Republican "values", but that Democrats are using the divisive issue of immigration to steer them away from the GOP.

"Immigration is being used as a political football," Gutierrez said in a January interview with CNN.

According to many political analysts, Latinos will be an important swing vote in the 2012 election. A recent Fox News Latino poll found that Romney would only win 14% of the Latino vote if pitted against Barack Obama.

Villaraigosa says that Romney will have trouble convincing voters that he's come to the middle on the issue of immigration.

"It's going to be very difficult for him to try to move away from what he's said and what he's done," Villaraigosa concluded.

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Comments

[concerned california]

06:11 PM on 04/30/2012

Mr. Villaraigosa is banking on Hispanic Votes! How many people are deported from the USA vs. How many migrate to the United States illegally? If we were to look at which country separates families more - I bank on say Mexico. California has 3 million illegal immigrants. Some are teens that come to help their family - they are separated from their family by coming. So many kids are left in Mexico while parents cross the border.. Why is NO ONE talking about Mexico separating families??? This is not a racial issue! This is a legality issue! People clearly have a choice about leaving their country. By fighting for their rights here, I assume they can do the same in mass form in their country! On top of that, regarding DREAM - undocumented, unapologetic and unafraid.. please. Some say it in spanish. I assume because they are bilingual they can separate back to Mexico and let their parents stay and pay for a much cheaper education at the University of Guadelejara. There is a University in Tijuana and Ensenada for goodness sakes. They would be way ahead by paying super low tuition. But they would not be able to blame racial profiling for their lack of success if that was the outcome. They cannot blame substandard education because they were educated in the USA. Maybe - if the did not succeed they would be forced to blame themselves! Imagine taking responsibility for your performance and attitude besides blaming minority status!

[NYLI53]

08:33 PM on 04/17/2012

Well maybe California and LA would be more fiscally better if they controlled their immigration.
What is the probelem with coming here leagally? My grandparents did it. I as an American could not immigrate to Mexico illegaly,. nor most countries. I think most latinos agee because they came here leagally. I have a lot of latino friends who agree with me.Its too bad Mexico is corrupt and full of drug cartels, It would not be that way if America would get oof the crack and pot.

[theskilift]

11:53 PM on 04/12/2012

Rodney King Like a vicious and bloody premeditated beating of David Burnett (X-Ray Technologist) in a public mall, in front of parents with young children Rbb Jeppson (Return Mormon Missionary and currently works for Salt Lake City Mayor Peter Corroon and Steve Swenson is an Salt Lake City Attorney.
There are 911 calls and other police photos that are available for this case showing multiple kicking injuries to crown of the head.
Please Contact: Scott Fisher (District Attorney) Phone: [phone] Case: # GO#SL 2010-185869
The Victim (David Burnett) has permanent and lifelong head and brain injuries. He was kicked unconscious at least 3 times by Rob Jeppson while defenseless on the ground.
Or you can call 9259563647 for more information on this case, please leave me a detailed message and I will promptly respond.
Looking for strong representation by a powerful, dynamic attorney that shows a genuine commitment to the rights of others and the law are upheld for all.
David Burnett [e-mail] Phone #[phone]
“good old Mormon boy” games with these Salt Lake thugs. Let’s make it a point that no one is above the law. Let’s stick to the law, not the persuasive powers and charm of the defendants.

[sandc411]

03:38 PM on 04/12/2012

"It's going to be very difficult for him to try to move away from what he's said and what he's done," Villaraigosa concluded.

one of the most ironic statements i've read.

[Chingatch Croute]

03:37 PM on 04/12/2012

"and out of line with former GOP leaders"

Let's follow the example of great republican leaders like Eisenhower!
(Operation WetB*ck)

[SoCalRich]

01:35 PM on 04/12/2012

Break our laws - pay the price with deportation

[USAmerican100]

01:30 PM on 04/12/2012

"A new Zogby poll of likely voters, using neutral language (see wording on following pages), finds that Americans prefer the House of Representatives' enforcement-only bill by 2-1 over Senate proposals to legalize illegal immigrants and greatly increase legal immigration."

From CIS dot org.

Seems traitor Tony is the extremist out of the mainstream. So are the Democrat Party leaders.

[Alitoo]

01:09 PM on 04/12/2012

By the way, Mr. Villaraigosa, what are YOUR comments about what should happen to George Zimmerman. After all, he's Hispanic. Of course, he's not here illegally so maybe you're not interested?

[Alitoo]

01:08 PM on 04/12/2012

On Tuesday night, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa condemned Mitt Romney's immigration stance, calling it "far out of the mainstream" and out of line with former GOP leaders on The Rachel Maddow Show
---------------Acceptance of people who make their first act here breaking our laws is "far out of the mainstream" here. Try cutting in line at a store, concert or athletic event and see what happens. Or cut someone off on the highway. And saying that some people are above having to follow the laws of this country because of their ethnicity is also "far out of the mainstream". Just look at the hue and cry over Trayvon Martin at the idea that his killer wouldn't be treated the same as any other.

[USAmerican100]

12:45 PM on 04/12/2012

Hey Tony Viva La Raza, where is your compassion for Jamiel Shaw and hundreds more Americans killed by illegal alien gang bangers in Los Angeles? Oh that's right I forgot, you only care about Latin Americans and have no compassion for everyone else because you are a RACIST, you are a leading member of the Tan Klan, La Raza Comsica "the superior cosmic race".

[USAmerican100]

11:59 AM on 04/12/2012

"Self deportation" is not an oxymoron, but "illegal immigrant" certainly is, since the US defines immigrants as "lawful permanent residents".

[Vicky Valentine Proud]

01:53 PM on 04/12/2012

So when has crossing the border illegally been classified as lawful?? PC terms to minimze cri,e have got to go, call it as it is, illegal.

[Seastink]

09:33 AM on 04/12/2012

Tony must have run out of toilets to clean. He's an embarrassment to the City of Los Angeles and no one cares what he has to say.

[mira chancleta]

10:49 AM on 04/12/2012

...we really do get the leadership we deserve...just look at Washington, DC...they are actually courting that drug-addicted, prostitute-licking former "Mayor", Marion Berry AGAIN for office.

...seriously, it's time to institute a minimum intelligence test to vote...soon even a monkey who can pull a lever will be allowed to vote...oh, that's right, we're already there.

[SoCalRich]

01:36 PM on 04/12/2012

this is good - hahahaha

[Viper1st]

08:05 AM on 04/12/2012

The Democrats should reconsider, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, as their Chair of the Democratic National Convention ~ the Chief Spokesman.

His credability and record of poor management, of the 2nd largest Hispanic/Latino populated city in the world, will not stand up to the vetting of the conservative right-wing press.

[Joel Wischkaemper]

05:32 AM on 04/12/2012

What a laugh.

City of Los Angeles welfare
http://www.the-signal.com/news/archive/12489/

He is practically on the streets saying ... come to L.A. to the illegal aliens.

[spqr05]

11:57 PM on 04/11/2012

I remember Romney saying he wanted to allow illegals to stay. In fact, I spoke to a guy in Mexico the other day in customer support. He said the only way for him to gain US citizenship was for him to return home to work and then be allowed to return here to his wife and child. It was a sad story but he said he's doing it because he really wants to be a US citizen, I told him that he should stay strong and keep up the hard work. This is someone I respect, he's left his family to do the right thing and return here legally that takes some big balls.

Then I read, 92% of Latinos mostly illegal believe that if they go to school here they should have citizenship. If I go to Mexico and go to school am I a citizen, NO! How about Europe, or China, NO! How about if they work hard and do things the right way, there's a chance.

[Joel Wischkaemper]

05:35 AM on 04/12/2012

Naa. In 2008, and before actually, (he did the research on it) he was saying no illegal aliens. The illegal aliens though, want Obama as the very best hope they have. And he is.. but Romney isn't.

He could get together with his family in Mexico any time he wanted to.

[Vicky Valentine Proud]

02:01 PM on 04/12/2012

I respect such a person myself, that is what the American dream is all about. Plus he is setting a fine example for his child as well and not using his child s na anchor nor excuse. i applaud this person because he is taking measures to correct his status and not live in fear that his being seperated from his family will be at the hands of ICE, then his return much more difficult. He serves as examples to the illegals out there, that there is a way to do it and do it right, and it may mean you have to give up something in the process, even for a short while, but if you value what you will receive in the end, such a sacrifice will seem small once all is said and done. ILLEGALS TAKE NOTE AND STOP WAITING FOR OUR GOVERNMENT TO CHANGE THE LAWS TO BENEFIT YOU AND YOUR SELFISHNESS!!!