Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, a Texas congressman, said Wednesday that he favors a compassionate immigration policy that does not rely on “barbed wire fences and guns on the border.”
Mr. Paul, who has differentiated himself from the rest of the Republican Party on issues related to immigration reform policies, on Wednesday discussed immigration at a Hispanic event in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Texas congressman plans several days of campaigning in Nevada before the state’s Republican caucuses on Saturday, noting that he plans to focus on immigration reform as the election approaches.
“I just do not believe barbed wire fences and guns on our borders will solve any of our problems,” the Texas congressman told a group of about 100 people.
Speaking Wednesday, Mr. Paul said immigrants have been unfairly blamed for the bad economy, adding that even during a recession, the U.S. needs immigrant labor.
The Texas Republican spoke in detail about U.S. immigration policy, saying he favored legal immigration. Mr. Paul noted that he does not agree with a so-called amnesty program that would allow people who have been in this country illegally to gain citizenship. The Republican presidential candidate compared the programs to rewarding lawbreakers.
Mr. Paul, who largely trails in recent polls, said Wednesday that he thinks there is too much emotion involved in the issue of immigration reform. Mr. Paul also said the nation “overreacted” to the events of September 11, 2001, as far as immigration reform goes.
Mr. Paul noted that proposals for national identification are a prime example of the overreaction, adding that he does not favor issuing national identification cards.
“I don’t want to live in a country where we have to have our papers” to conduct ordinary business, said Mr. Paul. “That makes no sense at all to do that.”
