Thread: Christie finally gives some insight into his immigration policy

By Matt Arco | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on April 17, 2015 at 6:40 PM, updated April 17, 2015 at 8:08 PM

NASHUA, N.H. — Gov. Chris Christie said on Friday he doesn't support building a wall across the nation's border to crack down on immigrants entertaining the country illegally.

The governor, speaking to New Hampshire residents during a Republican Party summit, has begun opening up on the topic of immigration as he edges closer to a likely 2016 presidential campaign. Christie advocated sealing the border without a coast-to-coast wall, cracking down on employers who hire unauthorized immigrants and not relying on people already here to "self deport."

Hearing the governor's thoughts on immigration has been a new phenomenon. Christie has, up to this point, largely balked from discussing immigration policy and immigration reform.

But when residents in New Hampshire, which holds the nation's first presidential primary, ask, Christie answers.

"The reason people come here is ... to work," said Christie.

He argued officials need to clamp down on employers who hire unauthorized immigrants after "we setup a fair system" for people to enter the country legally.

The governor offered two other tidbits: He's "not one who's for building a wall from one end to the other" and he's "not someone who believes that for the people who are already here that they're going to self deport."

The latter was a talking point former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney used during his last campaign for the White House.

There are few topics more controversial at the moment than immigration reform, but Christie had largely refused to enter the fray until speaking with New Hampshire voters. During a trade mission to Mexico, Christie had a simple response for reporters pressing him to discuss his ideas to solve the country's flawed immigration system: I won't answer the question unless I'm running for president.

"I understand everybody wants to start a campaign that I even haven't decided I want to be in right now. I'm just not going to do it. I won't have anything to say on immigration unless, and until, I become a candidate for the president of the United States," he said. Months later during a meeting of Republican governors in Florida, Christie doubled down: "You guys are trying to get me to take positions that I might take if and when I ever become a candidate for president," Christie said. "If I were to run for president I would then articulate (my position)."

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf...migration.html

Well, there's nothing like clarity in a Presidential campaign. I think I've got enough mud from Christie's position on illegal immigration to make him a Mud Pie.

Originally Posted by Judy

Well, there's nothing like clarity in a Presidential campaign. I think I've got enough mud from Christie's position on illegal immigration to make him a Mud Pie.

He has provided more than enough information for us to see clearly that he doesn't support border security and does support an increase in immigration. Personally, I thought it was rather self damning when he said that he didn't support a crack down on employers until after a better legal immigration system was in place. What in the heck is he talking about? Our current system already makes us the most generous importers of immigrants in the world! Businesses should be held accountable now, not when Christie 'thinks' we have a better legal immigration system in place.

Furthermore, I don't agee with his position regarding self-deportation. However, for self-deportation to work we must enforce all our wirtten immigration laws, end birthright citizenship which will end the "anchor baby" problem, institute a mandatory national E-verify program for all companies with 10 or more employees and soundly increase corporate/company penalties for those found in violation of the law. Will these steps rid us of all illegal immigrants, no they won't because a portion of the illegals come here to prey on Americans through criminal acts, but it will rid us of most of them that come here to work. In summary, for self-deportation to work, we must first get some key parts of the puzzle in place. If that were done, I'm sure a large bulk of the illegals would leave on their own. Oh, and if that were to happen, there would no longer be a need for DHS to "prioritize" because most every illegal left would be the criminally miinded that are eligible for immediate deportation!

Politicians need to speak the whole truth, all the truth and nothing but the truth. Here is another one that says people come here to work. Yes, nearly all come here to make money, but not necessarily legally making their fortune. Until politicians become honest, it is near impossible to get the rest honest!