Republicans Continue to Lurch Right on Immigration

Staring at startling exit polls after a beating by President Obama in 2012, Republicans vowed they were finally ready to do something about immigration reform or risk further alienating Hispanic voters.

But two-and-a-half years later they have seem to have decided to lurch to the right on the issue.

In interviews on Fox News this week, three Republican White House hopefuls did their best to assure potential primary voters that “amnesty” would not happen on their watch.

On Monday, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey told Megyn Kelly that a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants was an “extreme way to go” and explained why he has changed his view on the issue.

“I think I have learned over time about this issue and done a lot more work on it,” Mr. Christie said. “I think everyone has to do what you need to do to be able to get educated on these issues and learn.”

Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin also defended his new and harder line on immigration to Fox’s Bret Baier.

In 2013, Mr. Walker said that a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants “makes sense” and that he wants people from anywhere in the world to come to America and work hard. However, on Tuesday night he said that he was against amnesty and that illegal immigrants who live in the United States must go back to their countries of origin and apply for citizenship if they want legal status.

“You gotta secure the border, we gotta enforce the law,” Mr. Walker said, arguing that protecting American workers must be a priority in any immigration reform plan.

Those shifting perspectives on immigration follow a more nuanced change of heart from Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, who explained on Fox News Sunday this week why he has backed off the comprehensive immigration reform legislation that he had helped push through the senate.

“You also have to deal with the reality that in the political process, people are going to vote based on what they’re hearing from their constituents and others,” Mr. Rubio said. “And that’s what I’m basically saying, is the votes are not there for comprehensive immigration reform.”

Bowing to political realities, Mr. Rubio, who says he still wants to change the immigration system, is now among those who say the focus should be on border security.

“If we want to move forward on immigration, the first thing we’re going to have to do is prove to the American people that future illegal immigration is under control,” he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/05/20/republicans-continue-to-lurch-right-on-immigration/