Newsletter April 2012 – Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul

IN THIS ISSUE
The U.S. Naturalization Civics Test
Study Shows That Undocumented Workers Have ‘Negligible Impact’ On Wages
Pedro Gutierrez, a Great Candidate for the DREAM Act
The Faces of US Immigrants: Fareed Zakaria, Journalist
Recipes From The Melting Pot: Crepes, A French Delicacy
Quote of the Month

Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul

In the next few months, we will be writing about where the Republican and Democratic candidates stand with respect to immigration issues. We will try to present their viewpoints on the road to the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. The next two candidates will be Republicans Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul, though it appears that they are long shots in gaining the Republican nomination.

Newt Gingrich, Former Speaker of the House of Representatives

Newt Gingrich has stated that the topic of illegal immigration is a “complicated one.” During one of the Republican debates, he in fact stated “No serious citizen who’s concerned about solving this problem should get trapped into a yes/no answer in which you’re either for totally selling out protecting America or you’re for totally kicking out 20 million people in a heartless way.”

He supports securing the border by using Homeland Security agents and National Guard to supplement patrols. He would also make it easier for visitors to come to the United States by making visa procedures more efficient and less expensive. Gingrich also believes that the United States should develop a guest worker program that would allow workers to come and take temporary jobs and then return to their homelands.

Gingrich has expressed support for some parts of the DREAM Act, specifically the provisions that would allow the children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state college tuition rates. He also supports allowing immigrants to join the military and gaining a path to citizenship in that manner. Gingrich also believes immigrants should learn English and American history as requirements for citizenship which, according to him, would allow for gaining employment more readily.

He has stated that he would push for comprehensive immigration reform if elected and believes that immigration policy is a federal responsibility and should not be undertaken by the states, although he also understands and is sympathetic to states such as Arizona, Alabama and Georgia that have passed immigration laws out of “frustration with the federal government.”

Ron Paul, Current U.S. Representative for Texas’s 14th congressional district

Paul, a favorite of the Tea Party, has a very simple approach to illegal immigration: bring all the nation’s military troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan, and then station as many as needed along the U.S.-Mexican border.

Paul has would enlist the help of private landowners along the border to assist the government in providing security. He does oppose building a border fence because he thinks it would restrict the movement of Americans without do ing enough to restrict illegal migrants from Mexico.

He opposes the DREAM Act as well as the idea of the government giving educational benefits to the children of illegal immigrants. Paul is also against any legislation that includes amnesty provisions. He has also voted for legislation that would make English the nation’s official language.

Paul opposes the federal E-Verify system that forces employers to check the immigration status of their workers through a national database because he doesn’t believe that businesses should be involved in screening for illegal immigrants. Paul believes that that should be the Federal Government’s responsibility.

Next month, we will feature President Barack Obama. In the meantime, if you think you are a legal permanent resident who is eligible for U.S. Citizenship, don’t wait to apply. You may get your citizenship in time to vote in the national election in November, 2012.