For the first time Arizona Senator John McCain has said that he would support a programme of immigration reform that would deport illegals.
The senator has been radicalizing his views recently, with some commentators suggesting that his new hard-line immigration stance is an attempt to please the right-wing voters who could secure his close primary race.
"No amnesty. Many of them need to be sent back," McCain said during an interview on KQTH-FM in Tuscon when describing how he would deal with illegal U.S. residents.
He also told Congressional newspaper The Hill that he was against any plan that would give illegal immigrants a path to becoming residents, although added that he wasn’t opposed to guest worker programs.
"If we get the border secured, then a temporary legal worker program has to be part of it," he told the station.
The new controversial Arizona immigration laws kick in on July 29th. The US Justice Department has already said it will bring a lawsuit against the State alleging that the laws are unconstitutional.
The new legislation will make it compulsory for immigrants to carry documentation showing their status in the US. It also allows law enforcement to question people about their immigration status if the police have "reasonable suspicion" that the personal is an illegal immirgant.
The senator also wants companies who employ illegals to be “prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Critics have noted a stark change in McCain’s outlook on immigration. Back in 2007 McCain co-sponsored legislation with Senator Edward Kennedy that included a path to legalization
McCain also went on to attack the hard right wingers during the interview: "Anything short of rounding up 12 million people and deporting them is called amnesty by the opponents of this legislation,” he told the radio station.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.catmann | Jul 09, 2010, 07:10 AM EDT
Hang the Illeagls first, then you can box them up and ship them cheaper.
allaine0088 | Jul 09, 2010, 12:17 AM EDT
i agree to that!!!but how can we support McCain? he's 2 or more faces in the front of the republicans and democrates being like that kind of person must not to be trusted he's just want to be elected what kind of stupid strategy was that????????????
TaranOconner | Jul 08, 2010, 11:04 PM EDT
Whenever, whomever came up with this recent impetus to deport Illegals is Spot On! It may be too little, too late but in Illinois we are being overrun with Illegals too! Mostly and Especially in the food Industry.
WoundedKnee | Jul 08, 2010, 07:53 PM EDT
Looks like the best idea McCain has had in his lifetime.
IrishAndProud | Jul 08, 2010, 06:00 PM EDT
I agree with Monsoonman. Olovely's first sentence alone is correct (although I agree, we need to deport all illegals). The rest of olovely's rant is merely arrogant, contemptuous liberal elitism, cursing the country's growing conservative majority as just some concoction of a news network. That's how delusional, defensive, and denialist an Obamanik (and there aren't many of them left) like olovely is. That having been said, McCain is reading the polls like anyone else -- and so is suddenly trying to ingratiate himself to the majority so he doesn't lose his Senate seat (which I hope he does -- to Hayworth). Otherwise, he does stuff similar to Obama (governing against the majority) whenever it's NOT an election year.
U2rocks | Jul 08, 2010, 12:28 PM EDT
I hope he loses, not because he wants to deport all (which I am against) but because this guy is just a LIAR. He was for immigration reform 3 yrs ago then when he was campaigning for the presidential election he was against it. Then he lost the presidential election and he was for it and now he is trying to get re-elected and he changed his mind again.
Monsoonman | Jul 08, 2010, 11:51 AM EDT
olovely, your first sentence.....is well said.
olovely | Jul 08, 2010, 11:24 AM EDT
John McCain wants whatever John McCain thinks is best for John McCain. He's been pushed further to the right by the odious Tea Party reactionaries. So now he wants to pretend he's even more conservative than they are. As soon as the election is over they'll be discarded and he'll do as he pleases. The GOP and Fox News created the Tea Party, and once they get what they want they'll make it disappear.
Monsoonman | Jul 08, 2010, 09:47 AM EDT
It's McCain feeling the heat so he's seeing the light. But this change for him is spurred on by the fact the VOTERS of arizona, including Hispanic voters, are to the saturation point with illegal aliens. McCain had a chance to address this festering problem for years yet he chose to ignore it, until the election.