GOP candidates in 11th district talk tough on immigration


Saturday, December 29, 2007 5:54 PM CST

By Kurt Erickson
kurt.erickson@lee.net

SPRINGFIELD -- The three candidates vying for the Republican nomination in the Feb. 5 election to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller are talking tough when it comes to illegal immigration.

The trio agrees that some kind of wall or barrier should be built along the U.S.-Mexico border to stem the tide of illegal crossings and none favor granting amnesty to illegal immigrants who are already in the country.

The three all said immigration could play a key role in the race to take on Democratic candidate Debbie Halvorson of Crete and Green Party candidate Jason Wallace of Normal in the November general election in the 11th Congressional District. The district runs from Chicago’s south suburbs to Bloomington-Normal.

New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann says questions about illegal immigration are typically the first he receives when he is on the campaign trail.

“It really was somewhat surprising to me,â€