Huckabee: Halt Immigration from Terror States

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Source: ABC News

ABC News' Kevin Chupka, Kirit Radia, and Teddy Davis Report: While campaigning Tuesday in South Carolina, former Ark. Gov. Mike Huckabee called for ending immigration from countries that sponsor or harbor terrorists.

"There's a couple of things that were going to do differently," said Huckabee, "I say we ought to put a hiatus on people who come here and give them permits, if they come from countries that sponsor and harbor terrorists. Let's say until you get your act in order, and we get our act in order, we're not going to just let you keep coming and threaten the future and safety of America."

Huckabee's sweeping proposal goes farther than anything offered thus far by any of his G.O.P. rivals. It represents a further shift to the right on immigration for someone who, as Arkansas governor has, backed in-state tuition for illegal immigrants. His shift to the right on immigration began last month when he unveiled an immigration proposal which would require illegal immigrants to register within 120 days and to leave the country before gaining legal status in the United States.

Huckabee policy adviser Jim Pinkerton sought to downplay the scope of Huckabee's comments by arguing that Huckabee had called for a "thorough review" rather than a "hiatus."

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In articulating the rationale for his new policy, Huckabee mangled some of his facts. "Every one of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 came here legally," said Huckabee. "Our government welcomed them in."

Read more: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/01/huckabee-halt-i.html