Rep. Duncan Hunter vows to deport U.S.-born kids of illegal immigrants as Arizona brushfire hits California
It happened, naturally, at a "tea party" rally. California Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter, in Ramona on Saturday speaking to his conservative base, was asked if he would support the deportation of American children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants. “I would have to,” he said. Then he explained:
It’s a complex issue and it’s … you can look and say, ‘You’re a mean guy, that’s a mean thing to do, that’s not a humanitarian thing to do.’ We simply cannot afford what we’re doing right now. California’s going under.... Between $10 [billion] and $20 billion in this state that we spend on immigration -- that's health services, that's education, and jails. We just can't afford it anymore.... We’re not being mean. We’re just saying it takes more than just walking across the border to become an American citizen. It's what's in our souls.
Afterward the freshman congressman -- he took his father's seat after the senior Duncan Hunter, a 25-year veteran of Congress, lost his presidential bid in 2007 and left politics -- told the North County Times that he backs a House resolution, HR 1868, that would eliminate automatic citizenship for those children.
He also called Arizona's new immigration law allowing law enforcement officials to....
...pursue illegals with an ID check "a fantastic starting point" in addressing the nation's immigration woes. No word yet on what he thinks about Alabama gubernatorial candidate, Tim James, who is vowing that that, if elected, he will allow the state's driver's license test to be conducted only in English.
James, a Republican whose father is former Alabama Gov. Fob James, thinks offering the test in many languages is costly and misguided. As he says in his ad:
Why do our politicians make us give driver's license exams in 12 languages? This is Alabama. We speak English. If you want to live here, learn it. We're only giving that test in English if I'm governor. Maybe it's the businessman in me, but we'll save money and it makes sense. Does it to you?
Already, Hunter's remarks have stirred up a firestorm of protest. Immigration activist Richard Griswold Del Castillo told Fox 5 in San Diego: "I think it's sad that an elected official like Mr. Hunter is trying to appeal to a very fringe group for political reasons. He's basically advocating violating the Constitution of the U.S. by deporting U.S. citizens."
But Hunter is not backing down. Asked if he was merely pandering to a right-wing constituency, he said: "I'm not pandering to anybody. I think we need to enforce our immigration laws."
Looks like immigration reform is becoming the new healthcare reform.
-- Johanna Neuman
Photo: Protesters gather at Tax Day Tea Party in Denver April 15. Credit: Getty Images
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Your nationality is in your soul. At least Hunter thinks so. At the very least he admits that you have a soul. I think it would be better for him to deny the existence of the soul so he would at least have ignorance to fall back on as he discriminates against the dignity of the person. Is it convenient to just put the immigration topic aside while you deal with "National Security"? Absolutely. Does Mr. Hunter believe that immigrants are a greater threat to the nation than himself or other bureaucrats that cheat and steal by sucking up funds for unnecessary desires. Or rather that loss of family values that the American people have given up to materialism, is this not a greater threat to this nation? Where is the man here? I see no man. I see a coward hiding behind poor migrants wanting to better the current and future state of being for themselves and their families. Their kids too? The greatest blessing parents seek to obtain being turned into a misfortune.
Arizona reached a "great starting point"? Ridiculous, this has been reduced to absurdity. The closer we get to these ultra conservative ideologies the closer we get to reliving Nazism in the, now, United States of Absolutism.
Check me.
Posted by: Humilis Vir | April 29, 2010 at 01:53 PM
All of this hysteria is caused by those who don’t live along the border and who have Not read the legislation. Our MISGUIDED president refuses to enforce present immigration laws and secure the border. There isn’t any difference from present immigration law than any so-called Comprehensive Reform other than create a path to citizenship for those here, the same as the last reform for which the Federal Government has zero creditability.
When I fly inside this country, I stand in a long TSA line and am treated as a potential terrorist while every night hundreds walk into this country. Obviously, the terrorist threat or border security is a joke or both. The violence in Mexico is spilling over into the US and our so-called Leaders need to be aware their Duties to this country are to protect Legal Residents regardless of race.
The Arizona law is modeled on Federal law. Either the president demonstrates some leadership and protect the legal residents of Arizona by enforcing immigration law or Law becomes irrelevant. If we are not a nation of law, we will be a nation of anarchy. If the government will not protect people, people will protect themselves.
Posted by: Robert Emery | April 29, 2010 at 02:17 PM
Rep. Hunter needs to learn the U.S.constitution as it says ANYONE born in the U.S. is a American citizen.
Posted by: paul | April 29, 2010 at 02:20 PM
I was born to illegal German immigrants 100 years ago. Does he want to take away my citizenship? ok, fair enough. We'll just uproot the majority of America and tell them to go back to the countries they are from.
There is some irony that he made this speech in Ramona of all places. Does he not realize that English is NOT the only language spoken in the United States, and that California specifically will always be intertwined with the Spanish language. Californios who laid the basis for our great state have long spoken Spanish before the recent influx of immigrants from Mexico and Central America in the last 30-40 years. Similarly, there are French speaking Americans in northern Vermont and New Hampshire, not to mention the creole speaking Americans in Lousiana and the Bayou region. And let's not forget that President Van Buren was a 6th generation American, and yet, he came from a Dutch community just outside New York City where he grew up speaking only Dutch. Even the Amish in Ohio and Pennsylvania still speak German!
While it may make sense bureacratically to have 1 language, the truth is that we are a very hetergenous country. Doing so would violate many Americans' rights by disenfranchising them. And yet, for the life of me I can't understand half of what southernors say even though they claim they are speaking English. Get real. America is great because of its diversity.
And just as a post-thought; I have a better idea. Why don't we make it a requirement that all children learn a foreign language fluently.
Posted by: Johnny G | April 29, 2010 at 04:00 PM
The Libs and Dems are all racist, they mention race and play the race card at the drop of a hat!
I thought Obama was suppose to be post-racial? He's dividing us more by race than any president before him has done. I am Latino and I will never jump on the Obama bandwagon!
Posted by: Steve Rodriguez | April 29, 2010 at 06:50 PM
rep hunter, i am a black man who just become a republican, this ideal of deporting illegal kids is something that should have been done many moon ago. great idea.
Posted by: joe the taxpayer | April 29, 2010 at 09:32 PM
hi i juat wanted to let mr. hunter know how much more racist could he be those kids are as much U.S. CITIZEN as he is if not more . he should focus more on putting a way this damn child molesters and murders also focus on how to help us here in california recover from the recetion we have been in and are staring to recover ... he should be ashamed that while many "so call" U.S citizens with degrees where with out a job the illegals had full time employement why ?? because they didnt need a very high end paying job they took what was given like washing mr. hunter car at the car wash so TELL HIM PLEASE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM FOLLOW TREW WITH HIS RACIST REPLY !! thanks
Posted by: lourdes rodriguez | April 29, 2010 at 11:23 PM
We were all illegal immigrants in the 1600's.
Posted by: markiejoe | April 30, 2010 at 06:09 AM
If he'd said that the children have to stay, they're American citizens after all, he'd have been accused of "breaking up families." Heard that one before? Children should stay with their parents.
Now maybe something can be done to change or get rid of the 14th Amendment. Enabling foreign invaders to become citizens because a pregnant women crossed the border is not what it was written for. Seriously, does any other country allow that?
Posted by: Malagate | April 30, 2010 at 06:43 AM
Note the 14th Amendment states Immigrates born in the U.S.A. It does not say anything about Illegal Immigrates. Why did President Obama halt the building of our southern border fence. Are we not @ war in 2 countries and blowing up people in Pakinstan with our Drones.I guess the President doesn't care if Terrorist enter our country. Along with Drug smugglers,Sex and Human trafficing and yes Illegal Immigrates that have not passed criminal and medical background checks.
Posted by: Garry Barnes | April 30, 2010 at 09:39 AM
The GOP are fascists who openly support a police state.
Posted by: Carrie | April 30, 2010 at 01:54 PM
Arizona is not Nazi Germany!!! Its just a state where good, hard working people want to live free of crime, gangs, and drug lords coming in from the southern border!!!!
God bless Arizona!!!
Posted by: Steve Rodriguez | April 30, 2010 at 11:21 PM
I think it is best that Mexico's hospitals, and medics take care of the expectant mothers and newborns instead of the expectant mother traveling all the way to the US to have their baby, albeit for the purpose of gaining a pathway toward US citizenship for the respective family. Bravo Rep. Duncan of California. I see nothing unconstitutional about changing the US Constitution in a legal and proper fashion by simply ammending it(adding a newer ammendment) which would clarify the fourteenth ammendment so it will be definitely clear to everyone concerned that persons born in the US of illegal immigrants are not elligible for US citizenship. Yes, there is cause for concern about national security, even local security, when illegal immigrants violate the borders of the United States of America.
Posted by: byetheway77 | May 02, 2010 at 12:23 AM
Hi, We need to do what Arizona is doing, make our borders safe. that rancher that wsa killed on his own property is enough for me. The Mexican government needs to close their borders and take responsiblity for their people. I'm also tired of paying for the illegals when they use our system. Also, I'm tired of listening on the telephone press 1 for English, press 2 for Spanish, this is AMERICA. If you don't speak English learn it or go back where you came from. We make too many concessions for everybody. The Liberals want to give everything away, let them give what they have and leave us alone. Also, Obama needs to show that he is American, not Islam.
Posted by: Nannette List | May 04, 2010 at 05:21 PM
Yo, Rep. Hunter. Tell me, who is an "American" We are a land of people who immigrated to this country. The only true Americans are the Native Americans!
Posted by: Y | May 05, 2010 at 08:36 PM
Duncan Hunter, you are my heroe!
Posted by: cheryl brown | May 21, 2010 at 06:49 PM