Ron Paul on IMMIGRATION Q: You want a 700-mile fence between our border and Mexico? A: Not really. There was an immigration bill that had a fence (requirement) in it, but it was to attack amnesty. I dont like amnesty. So I voted for that bill, but I didnt like the fence. I dont think the fence can solve a problem. I find it rather offensive. Q: What should we do? A: Get rid of the subsidies. (If) you subsidize illegal immigration, you get more of it. Q: Get rid of welfare? A: All the welfare benefits. Q: Including government-paid health care? A: Absolutely. Q: So what should a hospital do if an illegal immigrant shows up for treatment? A: Be charitable, but have no mandates by the federal government. Catholics want to help a lot of these people. Im not for (punishing anyone who wants to help voluntarily). But we wouldnt have so many (illegals) if they didnt know they were going to get amnesty. If you promise them amnesty medical care, free education, automatic citizenship, food stamps, and Social Security youre going to get more (illegal immigration). I think we could be much more generous with our immigration. (But) we dont need to reward people who get in front of the line. Q: We should be more generous in our legal immigration policy? A: (Without the welfare state) it would be a non-issue. Today its a big issue because people are hurting; they cant keep up with paying their bills. They see (illegals) using food stamps, in the emergency rooms, demanding bilingual education in the schools. The costs are going up. Q: You oppose birthright citizenship, which says that the child of an illegal immigrant who gives birth in America is a U.S. citizen. But that right to citizenship is in the Constitution, isnt it? A: Theres confusion on interpreting the 14th Amendment. It says that if youre under the jurisdiction of the United States, you have a right to citizenship if youre born here. But its a little bit confusing. If you step over the border and youre illegal, are you really under the jurisdiction? Theres a question on that, and I want to clarify it. I dont like to reward people who sneak in for that purpose and get on the welfare rolls. Q: What about the millions who are here illegally already? Should we deport them? A: I dont think anybody could find them. Nobody even knows how many there are. But if they come for welfare benefits and you know theyre illegal, (you should) deny them the benefits. If they commit a crime, send them home. Today in many cities, youre not even allowed to ask them their immigrant status. Policemen tell me they cant ask that question to find out if theyre illegal. Its politically incorrect to ask a person his immigrant status because that would (be like saying), If youve broken the law, maybe you ought to go home. More of the above interview here: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/107097