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Subscribe to RSSOSKALOOSA, Iowa—Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann waded into a sensitive area of immigration policy Saturday during a somewhat charged exchange at a campaign stop in southeast Iowa.
Bachmann entered an extended exchange with a college student (and Democrat) over how to handle the immigrants who are brought to the U.S. illegally as children.
After finishing a speech that focused in part on repealing the federal health care law and overhauling the tax code, Bachmann opened the floor to questions from the 100 or so people gathered at Smokey Row restaurant.
A 19 year-old college student, identifying himself as Latino, asked what Bachmann would “do to” the children of illegal immigrants.
Bachmann responded that she is “not doing anything to them,” and described why she is against the federal government rewarding citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants.
“Their parents are the ones who brought them here,” Bachmann said.
"They did not have the legal right to come to the United States," Bachmann added, of the parents. "We do not owe people who broke our laws to come into the country. We don’t owe them anything.”
Bachmann went on to draw a parallel to her own family’s journey to the United States more than 150 years ago.
"I dare say that probably every single person in this room descends from immigrants,” Bachmann said.
“I did—my immigrant family came here in the 1850s, and they came into the United States legally. They received zero benefits.”
The exchange was somewhat charged, because the student, Roy Aguillon, cast the question in personal terms.
“These guys were my friends," Aguillon said. "They are the guys who sit next to me in class, who I see in Walmart.”
Aguillon, who is from San Antonio and is a student at nearby William Penn University, is a second-generation American citizen and is active in local politics—serving as the vice president of the College & Young Democrats of Iowa.
In an interview with NBC News, Aguillon said he didn't intend to draw Bachmann into a discussion about the DREAM Act—legislation which would offer benefits, including citizenship, to the children of illegal immigrants.
Instead, he says, he was looking for a practical answer for young illegals, given Bachmann's hard line position.
“These guys don’t know anything else," Aguillon said during his interview with NBC. "What are you going to do, send them back to Mexico? The place is basically in the middle of a drug war.”
Aguillon says he didn’t attend the event to raise trouble, and despite his leadership role in the Iowa College Democrats, he would consider voting Republican in 2012.
He complains that President Obama abandoned the DREAM Act, and hasn’t been hard enough on Wall Street. He says, of Obama: “He’s not enough of a fighter to be my president right now.”
Despite the personal tone of their exchange, Aguillon and Bachmann chatted following the event, and they posed for pictures together afterward, along with Aguillon's girlfriend.
As the campaign team left the restaurant, Iowa state co-chair Brad Zaun, a state senator from Urbandale, pulled him aside.
“Thanks for your honesty,” Zaun said.
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@ap1414066
With the exception of one (social security eligibility), not a SINGLE assertion in your paragraph is either true or accurate.
I would use a little more caution when labeling others as "stupid" or "idiot" especially within the text of such nonsense.
You are by far the most ignorant contributor I've encountered on these forums thus far and for that I commend you.
If you are in this country illegally, you should be immediately returned to your country of origin. Regardless of how you got to the U.S. or who brought you to the U.S. and regardless of how long you have been in the U.S. illegally. The U.S. is very kind to illegals, in other countries, including Mexico, you are imprisoned or worst.
This is a two fold problem. One side is ignoring the law by denying that children born in this country are citizens. Both sides are ignoring the law which speaks of deportation as a consequence of illegally entering this country.
So - one the one had, if you dont like the law then change it, but until then its the law. They are citizens, like it or not.
On the other hand, enforce the law, if you dont like it then change it, but until then its the law.
I do wonder what we should do about the parents of said child born in this country...Do we deport them and allow their child to live in this country and try to find someone else to raise them? Do we allow the parents to stay here and raise them? Do we deny the childs rights and send them all away?
Its not a simple matter and its not owned by either the republicans or the democrats .
82nd- Great post! How come it is all of a sudden this BIG CRISIS???? What brought down our economy? Wall St ,morgage co's and the banks, not illegal immigrants. This is going to be a long drawn out process, people need to calm down, stop the retoric on ALL sides, and start dealing with the problem. Just like the economy, no matter how we got here, here we are deal!
Thank you.
Both sides hold the constitution over their heads when they dont get their way. What neither side is recognizing is that they are both screaming to honor the constitution. It really is my belief that we must quit arguing about who is to blame and just start going through everything, yes everything, with a fine tooth comb, and run it all through the "constitution test". If it is in violation then we are already at a point of agreement and can then discuss how to restore the constitution to each particular situation. Sounds like lots of work doesnt it? Im sure it is, and its worth it. Although all the finger pointing sells alot of news coverage and political entertainment programming. This might put the town criers on the left and the right out of work.
"You might say Im a dreamer.....but Im not the only one."
Thank you! That is one of my personal pet-peeves. lol Why do so many people get that wrong?
More to the point; How sad that there is so much arguing about an arbitrary line draw in the dirt. None of us OWN this land, NONE OF US, not even the government. We TOOK it from someone, and some day someone will take it from us, and the legality of all of it is nothing more than a pandering, academic argument that, in the end, means nothing... accept of course "I'm bigger than you(right now) so I'm gonna take your stuff".
That's not correct, binary boy. It's our land right now, and until someone DOES take it from us, it's our laws that apply. That's the reality that plays out in world history. It's lame thinking like yours that leads to the idea that we should all just sit down and die because anything we do leads to nothing in the end. If you want to give away what your anscestors fought and died for, go ahead, but don't expect the rest of us to buy into such nonsense.
So, paul BOY, by your logic when I come and take all your stuff from you it'll be mine. Simple thoughts for the simple of mind.
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What hypocrisy from Michelle Bachman and the mindless folks who support this kind of nonsense.....not do anything for children of illegals, indeed. If these children were born here, they are American citizens. So you don't do anything for them????!!!! I'm from the West Coast and am very aware that small businesses, ranchers, as well as homeowners would be up a creek without a paddle without the back-breaking work of Latinos, many of whom are "illegals". Latinos are now living throughout the U.S. and the dirty little secret, folks, is that we Americans are too lazy and inept to do the work many of these people do. They clean our toilets and scrub our floors, pick our fruits and vegetables, and do a thousand other things better and cheaper than our own citizens. And for Ms. Bachman to try and compare her ancestors' immigration process from Europe in the 1850's to a situation so completely different, both in time and complexity, given the proximity and history of our shared Border just shows how naive and scary she truly is. If you want to really see a big mess, just try and identify, not to mention send all the illegals back across the Border......who's going to do that, pray tell???? And where's the money to do it coming from? Especially since the God-fearing conservatives are trying to all but eliminate that Bad Ole Guv-ment, and they're absolutely paranoid if you mention taxes. If you think the Mexican drug cartel is a danger to our borders now, what do you think would happen if hundreds and thousands of dirt-poor Latinos, (including their kids) were sent back home, desperate for money and finding no jobs. There are no easy answers here, but the illegals who are already here need to have the means to become citizens and their children, who are already citizens, have the same rights as any other American citizen.
You're so funny...... ah...I'd love to see some of you ninnies try living in Canada illegally, or almost any other country. I recently read an article on the illegal asian's they are dealing with. And their laws are stricter than ours are. People come specifically to take advantage of their "economic situation in the clothing industry" they use the resources then send the monies home to their families. Not only is this hurting Italy's economy, but it's tarnishing their reputation for the goods they've been known for, as well as the crime increase. It's basically burdening the country, that's trying to support it's own citizens. Which is exactly what this is about. My Grandmother was very specific when she stated over and over again. Charity starts at home. We take care of ours, so that we can take care of others...it's not like this countries middle income has fat to live off of. Every day the people that have worked the whole of their lives to own a home, and car and put food on the table and send their first generation of kids to college are now seeing that dream shattered, and we are arguing about helping other countries citizens? This is extremely funny..... I can't afford my own children let alone someone elses. If I could I would have had more than two! Maybe if we stop handing out what generations have worked tirelessly for. They may rethink coming here illegally.
I dont see the problem
The COnstitution does not lay out any provisions for nationals of another nation in the USA
make the Mexican government take care of the rats - its not fair on the US taxpayer to have to fund these little villains
Send the illegal beanies home- we definitely do not need them - they have no right here if they swam the border.
Farkin liberal morons - shamelessly trying to buy the latin vote - pathetic
the constitution makes it clear that if you are born here, you are a citizen.
The only question is what to do with their illegal parents and the child who is now either parent-less (we kicked his/her parents out of the country) or country-less (since we kicked him/her-citizen out of his/her country).
Ideas?
Bachmann is a self-serving charlatan and crafty story teller. She loves to deceive, even after her lies are found out.
We, as a nation, could easily afford universal education as well as universal health care (for all people within our borders) by simply ending universal corporate welfare. The top 400 billionares paying his or her fair sahre in taxes could put 1 million unemployed back to work - not at Walmart Wages, but 50k/year.
Been there, done that (Army brat). My parents were unmarried when I was born. My younger brother (born in Germany) was an American citizen from birth, while our mother and I were German nationals. My father had died just before my mother, brother and I emmigrated to the US. After 2 years of legal battles and constant threats of deportation, my mother entered a loveless marriage to a US citizen to avoid deportation. As a minor, I also got to stay and later became a naturalized citizen. - My mother is now in her late 60s, widowed again after some 30 years of marriage to a man she didn't love (and who didn't love her), and still officially a German citizen. My brother and I are both college graduates and productive members of society. - Was it all worth the price of admission? YOU decide!
the problem I have with the illegals is they dont embrace american lifestyle and culture. they want america to be mexico. they come here and fly the mexico flag, trash our country, and break laws. They only care about the famalia and money! I go to the lake and they take it over and throw thier trash everywhere and make the kids translate for them. just like they do when they are coming across the border. no respect for the land. yes they are proud people. proud of their mexican heritage. I see liscence plates with the mexican flag...not the american flag. screw the illegals and the children. embrace america or go back home.
As Romney, Bush, Perry, Republicans are such an example of. They all want illegal help to cross and work for them. They have said it for years, passed some legislation in a back door way. Employed a few, With out knowing????? The GOP wants the cheap labor for nothing, but come to pay they want to send them packing, and prosecute them,too. While they act mindless of their deeds.
Why don't we just toss out this whole thing and let Mexico Suceed into the union. I'm sure they would love to live by the US Laws right? Let them all pay taxes, including drug trafficers...we'd make money off them! :) Plus we could go vacation easier! :) I'd feel better if we were actually having a say in Mexico, if we are going to provide them with a lifestyle they can't afford, we should get something for it. Really great pottery, and fabulous food stuffs! :)