U.S. Border Control

VA Senate candidate would favor amnesty for illegals

January 12, 2008

Former Virginia Governor Mark Warner, speaking in Harrisonburg on Friday, said that he would have supported the McCain-Kennedy amnesty bill that was defeated in Congress last summer.

"Push come to shove, I probably would have voted for it," Warner told a gathering of Democrats in the city. "The alternative is that we do nothing."

The candidate for U.S. Senate made the remarks on the second day of a visit to the region. Other stops Friday included a political science class at Bridgewater College and a tour of downtown New Market.

Last year's amnesty attempt created a backlash, particularly from conservatives. But the bill's supporters called the legislation a reasonable solution to dealing with the illegal immigrants already here.

As part of immigration reform, Warner said he supported some sort of guest-worker program.

Warner's comments resulted in a response from Republicans on Friday. The National Republican Senatorial Committee chided Warner for "flip-flopping" on immigration.

Republicans cited Warner's support for a bill when he was governor that would have allowed some exceptions to the state's prohibition of in-state tuition for illegal immigrants.

When the General Assembly rejected the changes Warner wanted in 2003, he vetoed the bill.

"Mark Warner is running from his record as governor of Virginia, and he is going to have to answer uncomfortable questions," Republicans said in a prepared statement.