Giuliani and Immigration Policy

Marc Santora and Sam Roberts write in the NY Times:

“A decade ago, as mayor of New York, Giuliani used that historic backdrop to champion the cause of immigrants, calling attacks on people who came here legally a blow to “the heart and soul of America.” And from City Hall he often defended illegal immigrants, advocating measures to ease their path to citizenship.

“But now he is running for president, and the politics of immigration in the post-Sept. 11 world is vastly different, with the issue splitting the Republican Party and voters peppering Giuliani on the campaign trail with questions about his current thinking. Perhaps more than any other candidate, Giuliani has a record on immigration with the potential to complicate his bid for the nomination.

“In contrast to his years as mayor, when he fought federal efforts to curtail public hospital or educational services to illegal immigrants, he now talks of penalties for people here illegally and requirements for them to wait at the back of the line. And while he once pushed policies like providing schooling for the children of illegal immigrants by saying, “The reality is that they are here, and they’re going to remain here,” now he emphasizes denying amnesty. Click here for the rest of the story.

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