Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) claims to be against illegal immigration, but has repeatedly voted against the border fence (with one exception in 2006), as well as the E-Verify program to stop employers from hiring illegal aliens. In fact, he is against all laws prohibiting employers from hiring illegal aliens.
The Obama administration, the Mexican government, and the ACLU all filed separate lawsuits against the state of Arizona's because of its get tough policies which include the deportation of people who are here illegally. One of the few Republican Members of Congress who opposes the Arizona law is Ron Paul.
He claims to oppose amnesty but this is not supported by his voting record or other actions.
Former Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) says: "I served with Ron Paul in Congress for 10 years. He was a member of my Immigration Reform Caucus, and I consider him a friend. . . Unfortunately, it appears that Paul's views on immigration have now shifted into the pro-amnesty camp."
In their "2012 Presidential Hopefuls Immigration Stances Report Card", NumbersUSA gives him an "F" rating on immigration. The organization says:
"The ratings add up to an overall stance that just barely misses warranting an F-minus and squeaks through just better than President Obama. It is significantly worse than the grade of former Speaker Newt Gingrich who had previously been the worst of all Republican Hopefuls on immigration. . . only one Republican in Congress has a worse grade on border issues than Ron Paul."
Paul never expresses an interest in human rights abuses anywhere in the world. The exception is illegal immigrants, where he advocates a "Good Samaritan approach." The Congressman also does not want existing anti-immigration laws enforced.
In the September 2011 debate at the Reagan Library, Paul said a border fence could be used to keep Americans in rather than illegal aliens out.
The Congressman believes in states' rights, and if a state approved open borders he would not stop them.
When he ran for president in 1988 as the Libertarian Party nominee, Paul advocated their official policy. He said, "As in our country's first 150 years, there shouldn't be any immigration policy at all. We should welcome everyone who wants to come here and work."
At the same time he advocated the complete elimination of the Border Patrol, which he said was unconstitutional. Paul repeatedly said the Border Patrol is not mentioned in the Constitution so it should not exist. He is no longer using that rhetoric in this campaign.
He has since changed his mind, and now has strong rhetoric against illegal immigration on the campaign trail. However, Paul has consistently voted against using the US military to defend our southern border. This is a short list of his votes in favor of illegal immigration:
■2006: H. Amendment 206 to H.R. 1815
■2004: Goode Amendment to H.R. 4200
■2003: Goode Amendment to H.R. 1588
■The Goode Amendments authorized the Secretary of Defense to assign members of the military, under certain conditions, to assist in the performance of border control functions. It passed the House by a vote of 231-191.
■2002: H. Amendment 479 to H.R. 4546
■2001: Traficant amendment to HR 2586
■2000: Traficant amendment to H.R.4205
■1999: Trafficant Amendment to H.R. 1401.
■Rep. Paul voted against authorizing the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury to request that members of the Armed Forces assist the INS with border control efforts. The Traficant Amendment passed by a vote of 242-173.
■Paul voted against H.R. 418 in 2005 to strengthen border control by requiring completion of the last 3.5 miles of the San Diego border fence. The legislation also broaden the terrorism-related grounds for inadmissibility and deportability of aliens. It passed by a vote of 261-161.
■Paul voted in 1997, 2001 ( H.R. 1885) and 2002 (H RES 365) to grant, extend or continue under 8 USC Section 245-i amnesty for illegal aliens. This qualified as amnesty by "allowing an illegal alien to remain in the US legally" for a temporary period rather than permanent. This was seen as a loophole in the 1996 IRCA that barred illegal aliens from receiving visas for 10 years. By paying a "fee," illegal aliens who applied for legal status could remain in the US while their application was reviewed and evade the usual investigation done in their home countries. The 245i program has since ended, but Ron Paul voted for its continuance in 1997, 2001 and 2002, and voted against ending it later.
■Paul voted NO on extending the voluntary Basic Pilot Workplace Verification Program (H.R. 2359)
■Paul voted NO on the border fence in 2005 (Hunter Amendment to HR 4437). The legislation passed by a vote of 260-159. Rep. Paul changed his position when he decided to run for President and voted for the same measure, the Secure Fence Act, in 2006. The legislation authorized an additional 700 miles of double-layered fencing between the U.S. and Mexico. The Congressman changed his mind because he wanted "enforcement of the law." He said it was not because he supported the construction of a border fence.
■After Paul changed his position he was interviewed by John Stossel of 20/20 on January 3, 2008 and said he finds a border fence "rather offensive." He described his vote as symbolic, and he has never explained how he would secure the border.
During the August 2011 debate, Paul denounced "the people who want big fences." He said "this fence business is designed and may well be used against us and keep us in. In economic turmoil, the people want to leave with their capital. And there's capital controls and there's people control. So, every time you think of a fence keeping all those bad people out, think about those fences maybe being used against us, keeping us in."
