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Huckabee: Halt Immigration from Terror States
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ShareJanuary 15, 2008 7:57 PM
ABC News' Kevin Chupka, Kirit Radia, and Teddy Davis Report: While campaigning Tuesday in South Carolina, former Ark. Gov. Mike Huckabee called for ending immigration from countries that sponsor or harbor terrorists.
"There's a couple of things that were going to do differently," said Huckabee, "I say we ought to put a hiatus on people who come here and give them permits, if they come from countries that sponsor and harbor terrorists. Let's say until you get your act in order, and we get our act in order, we're not going to just let you keep coming and threaten the future and safety of America."
Huckabee's sweeping proposal goes farther than anything offered thus far by any of his G.O.P. rivals. It represents a further shift to the right on immigration for someone who, as Arkansas governor, backed in-state tuition for illegal immigrants. His shift to the right on immigration began last month when he unveiled an immigration proposal which would require illegal immigrants to register within 120 days and to leave the country before gaining legal status in the United States.
Huckabee policy adviser Jim Pinkerton sought to downplay the scope of Huckabee's comments by arguing that Huckabee had called for a "thorough review" rather than a "hiatus."
"He never intended to imply that it would involve refugees from terrorism. This is against terror, not the victims of terror," said Pinkerton. "We're not making policy on the stump in Rock Hill, S.C."
While taking a tough line on immigration might appeal to some conservatives, Huckabee's informal proposal could cause him trouble in Florida where many Cuban-Americans live. Cuba is one of five countries on the State Department's “State Sponsors of Terrorism” list. The others are Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria.
Florida's primary is scheduled for Jan. 29.
Huckabee never precisely defined which terrorist states his policy would cover. When asked if the former Arkansas governor was referring to the five countries on the State Department's list, Pinkerton said, "Obviously, he'll have to sit down with the Central Intelligence Agency and defense community and assess who is being cooperative and who's not -- he's not president yet -- he's not privy to all this information about what to do."
In articulating the rationale for his new policy, Huckabee mangled some of his facts. "Every one of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 came here legally," said Huckabee. "Our government welcomed them in."
Despite Huckabee's claim that all the 9/11 hijackers came to the U.S. legally, the 9/11 Commission concluded that at least two of the 19 terrorists presented fraudulently altered passports when they entered the U.S.
None of the 9/11 hijackers came from countries on the State Department's "State Sponsors of Terrorism" list. The 9/11 hijackers came from Saudi Arabia (15), the United Arab Emirates (2), Egypt (1), and Lebanon (1).
While saying that Huckabee's focus is a top-to-bottom review of immigration from countries that harbor or sponsor terrorism, Pinkerton held out the possibility that Huckabee might ultimately call for a "hiatus."
"If his experts tell him we need a hiatus," said Pinkerton, "there will be a hiatus."
January 15, 2008 in Huckabee, Mike | Permalink | User Comments (4)
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The idea of stopping all immigration and passports to citizens of countries which harbor terrorists is fanatical. America should not punish the citizens of these countries many of which (like Pakistan) have very corrupt governments. To stop giving passports and allowing immigration from these counties would hurt America. Many who come to America from “terrorist” countries are the wealthy and elite of their country. They come to America to be educated and go back to their countries with a better understanding and appreciation of democracy and can speak out as a moderate voice in favor of America, and more importantly speak out against terrorism and take action. Buhtto was educated in the U.S as well as her children, she said that it was her education in the U.S, her exposure to democracy which inspired her to take that to her country. Why would the U.S want to bar moderate educated people from troubled countries from visiting or even immigrating here? There must be better ways to protect our own country from terrorists.
Posted by: nat | Jan 15, 2008 11:15:55 PM
Maybe it is a good idea now days to bar them because unlike in years past, they don't go home. They stay. They over-crowd us. Do we really need more people in this country? I'm not bias but let them stay at home or go to some other democratic country and learn democracy....build up their own schools, build a better econ. model so they can prosper, etc. etc. etc. Some things come from scratch. Good ole trial and error is the best teacher....and so is learning from some other place than the U.S.A.
Posted by: Harold | Jan 16, 2008 12:54:35 AM
"None of the 9/11 hijackers came from countries on the State Department's "State Sponsors of Terrorism" list. The 9/11 hijackers came from Saudi Arabia (15), the United Arab Emirates (2), Egypt (1), and Lebanon (1)."
Oh, you mean none of the terrorist who attack us on 9/11 were from Iraq? That's strange, most Americans beleive they attacked us. On wonder why.
Huckabee is an just another CFR phony Christian warmonger who wants to kill more Iraqis. When are the people going to wake up.
Vote for a veteran with integrity who will restore our civil rights, liberty and freedom and bring the troops home.
Posted by: greg | Jan 16, 2008 2:55:21 AM
Huckabee's argument, and the quote from Harold that says "Maybe it is a good idea now days to bar them because unlike in years past, they don't go home. They stay" is very reminiscent of the remarks made in the 1930s, refusing Jews from Germany. My great-grandparents, my great-aunt, great-uncle and their families were all murdered by the Nazis, since even though they would have had jobs here in the family business, they were refused entry visas by "Keep America for Americans" blindness.
Posted by: Bobg | Jan 16, 2008 9:31:46 AM
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