U.S. Border Control

Tancredo terms Bush failure to enforce immigration laws "despicable"

Nashua -- Republican presidential candidate Tom Tancredo said President Bush's failure to enforce existing immigration laws is leading to a domestic crisis. Tancredo, 61, said if electe he'd ask Congress to require the withdrawal of Social Security taxes from all employee wages to make it easier for the federal government to track and deport illegal aliens.

'If we don't like our immigration laws, if we think they are wrong, repeal them. If we don't think they are wrong, enforce them,' Tancredo said. 'Don't keep ignoring our laws, which this president has been doing, which is despicable.'

He said Bush's failure to crack down on employers who employ undocumented workers and to maintain border security amounts to a high crime. 'If he could be impeached for dereliction of duty, a bill could be brought. Unfortunately, that is not grounds,' Tancredo said.

A six-term congressman, Tancredo said illegal immigration has become the centerpiece of his campaign, due to the role it's played in rising health-care costs, availability of jobs and crime.

'It is the most serious domestic policy we face, it has enormous ramifications for America, legal or illegal immigration, period, because of the lack of assimilation that has occurred,' Tancredo said.

Employers need to increase the wages of the low-skill jobs instead of hiring illegal immigrants, Tancredo said. He insisted the private economy cost for such a move would be lower than the costs of educating and caring for those who are here illegally.

Tancredo said an illegal alien serving in the military should be placed on a path to citizenship, but all other undocumented citizens must return to their former home.

'I have compassion for people who have done it the right way,' Tancredo said.