MANews: In eleven years of publishing, we've found that while the immigration crisis has dominated the rhetoric of politics, the situation is worse than ever. Are there pragmatic steps that can be taken - immediately - to stem the tide of illegal aliens entering the U.S?Rep. Ron Paul: First, we need to bring home our border patrol agents we have sent to Iraq and get them back guarding our border. I think it is absurd that we are worried more about the borders of Iraq and Syria than we are about our own. Next, we need to immediately end federal mandates compelling states to give state welfare benefits to illegals. Right now, states are required to provide free medical care, education and sometimes even food assistance to illegal immigrants, and this acts as a subsidy for illegal immigration. Free education and medical care? This is a powerful incentive to come here illegally. Why wouldn't people bring their families here? If we cut off the subsidies, a lot of people here illegally would just leave.
MANews: Do you support the idea of ending birthright citizenship, one of the spoils of war from the invasion of illegals?
Rep. Paul: Absolutely, Peter. I have a bill in Congress right now that would do just that. [Editor's note: Paul's bill, H.J. Res. 46, introduced on 6/13/2007, states that "a person born to a mother and father, neither of whom is a citizen of the United States nor a person who owes permanent allegiance to the United States, shall not be a citizen of the United States or of any state solely by reason of U.S. birth."]
The entire interview can be found here.
