Barbour Stands Up for Immigrants
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, a Republican, took a markedly softer tone on illegal immigration during an interview yesterday than some of his fellow GOP politicians, arguing for a “common sense” approach to immigration. Barbour referenced ways immigrants benefit the U.S., ranging from helping rebuild after Hurricane Katrina to starting small businesses.
Via Think Progress:
“„BARBOUR: I’ve had a different experience then perhaps some other governors. I don’t know where we would have been in Mississippi after Katrina if it hadn’t been with the Spanish speakers that came in to help rebuild. And there’s no doubt in my mind some of them were here illegally. Some of them were, some of them weren’t. But they came in, they looked for the work. If they hadn’t been there — if they hadn’t come and stayed for a few months or a couple years — we would be way, way, way behind where we are now.
He also said he would support a reform of the way citizenship decisions are made, joining the ranks that argue the U.S. should allow the best and brightest immigrants to stay:
“„My idea is everybody from Stanford who’s from India that gets a PhD, we ought to stamp citizenship on his diploma. So instead of him going back to India and starting a business that employs 1,800 people, then he’ll start a business that employs 1,800 people in Des Moines, Iowa, instead of India. A lot of it is just common sense. And common sense tell us we’re not going to take 10 or 12 or 14 million people and put them in jail and deport them. We’re not gonna do it, and we need to quit — some people need to quit acting like we are and let’s talk about real solutions.
Barbour’s message may be better for the future of the GOP than that of his counterparts. Some observers argue Republicans will do lasting damage to their ability to win votes if they continue to push anti-immigration efforts perceived as racist — an end to birthright citizenship, for example. Still, anti-immigration stances continue to be popular among politicians and candidates from both parties. Among the 37 races for governor this year, candidates in more than 20 states have come out in support of Arizona’s contested SB 1070 immigration law, Politico reported today.
