Fixing a broken immigration system and securing the border are two common concerns among Iowa voters, and Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum was asked his position on the issues during two central Iowa stops on Monday. Santorum’s campaign typically focuses on manufacturing and social problems, however, he provided a long-winded answer to voters’ national security questions.
“We need to look at people most affected by immigration,” said Santorum during a stop in Waukee last night. “We’ve had the lowest growth of wages in this country since the Great Depression, and it’s because of illegal immigrants coming here. 70 to 90 percent of those who come here illegally are wage earners, not entrepreneurs. They’re people who take jobs with moderate to no skills.”
Santorum was asked how he would fix the immigration system, and if he would support fellow contender Donald Trump’s agenda to deport all 11 million illegal immigrants on day one of his presidency.
“I would not necessarily track them down and deport them, I don’t know how that’s really possible if we don’t know where they are,” said Santorum. “But we are a country of laws. People say if we tear families apart (by mass deportation), we are being uncompassionate. But the most compassionate America can be is that no one is above the law. That’s not uncompassionate – it’s why people come here.”
The two-time presidential candidate suggested using the E-verify system, that is enforcing employment rules and requiring employers to enter certain information on all employees into a national database, as well as tracking down people who have overstayed their visas. Santorum also did not mention putting up a massive wall, as Trump has suggested several times, nor did he suggest vamping up the manpower on the Mexican border, as Rick Perry wants. A few of his fellow competitors, such as Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush, have also opted not to campaign on immigration as extreme as Trump.
Santorum said he will continue to focus his campaign on the issues, not the negative rhetoric toward fellow Republicans.
“I’m going to continue to talk about making America a better place,” said Santorum. “Talk about how you’re going to confront the serious problems of this country…with good leadership we can combat those problems.”
The former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania is reaching a milestone in his campaign today: he will complete “the full Grassley” 99-county tour of Iowa with a special celebration in Rock Rapids. He is the first candidate from either side to do so this election season.
