[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/images/01/17/art.huckabee2.ap.jpg caption=" Republican presidential hopeful, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, signs a no amnesty pledge at a campaign event at North Greenville University in Tigerville, S.C., Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008"]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Mike Huckabee is vowing to enforce this nation's immigration laws and to send all illegal aliens home.
The Republican presidential candidate was the first one to sign the pledge of an "immigration-reduction" group called "NumbersUSA." The so-called "No Amnesty" pledge means Huckabee is committed to opposing any "special path to citizenship" for the estimated 12 million illegal aliens in this country. He's also vowing to cut the number of illegal aliens already here by means of law enforcement.
Huckabee signed the pledge in South Carolina, site of Saturday's Republican primary, where it's looking like a tight race.
Throughout the campaign, Huckabee's opponents have called him weak on immigration... pointing to things like his support, as governor of Arkansas, for college scholarships for children of illegal aliens.
However, Huckabee's talk on immigration got tougher last month, when he came out with his nine-point immigration plan. Among other things, it calls for sealing the U.S.-Mexican border, hiring more border patrol agents, enforcing the law on employers who hire illegals and making illegal aliens go home before they can apply to return to the U.S.
Here’s my question to you: How realistic is Mike Huckabee’s to pledge to send all illegal aliens home?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Beth writes:
In reality, Mr. Huckabee may not be able to send them all home. But think how much better off we would be if he only accomplishes half that goal. I have not heard any other candidate with enough guts to make such a pledge.
Mike writes:
Completely unrealistic unless you get the full support of state and local law enforcement. It will be up to local law enforcement agencies to apprehend illegal aliens (which they should be doing already anyway) and turn them over to the INS. There are already laws on the books that are not being enforced so what does it matter if one person says he's going to send them all home?
Kathryn writes:
I hope if he's elected, he can do it. What's wrong with saying "You are here illegally. Go home"? If I ran a red light illegally, would I not have to pay the consequences? I'm all for making them obey the laws of the United States.
Tom writes:
A pledge on illegal aliens? Give me a break. It is the economy, stupid. He is just pandering. He knows that won't work.
William from North Carolina writes:
I will vote for Mike Huckabee on this pledge alone. Why even have borders or laws if anybody can come or go or do as they please without consequence? Deporting every illegal immigrant is not only realistic and uncomplicated with today's modern technology, it is imperative if this country is to survive as a sovereign and honorable nation.
Troy writes:
Elian Gonzales X 12 million = yeah right.
Brady writes:
Jack, How exactly does Huckabee plan on rounding up 12 million illegal immigrants? And where exactly will the millions of dollars in law enforcement resources come from? Perhaps he could play his guitar around the country with Chuck Norris to raise the required cash.