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GOP hopefuls debate immigration on Univision
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Said Romney, "Those who have come illegally, in my view, should be given the opportunity to get in line with everybody else, but there should be no special pathway for those that have come here illegally to jump ahead of the line or to be come permanent residents or citizens."
Thompson, asked if children born in the United States from illegal immigrants should be separated from their parents, said the greater issues is "chain migration."
"Right now, we have a situation where people can bring in spouses, children, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers and so forth," he said. "I think that people should be able to serve as a basis for the bringing in of their spouses and of their children, but I do not think there should be endless chain migration. So I think that is the issue to focus on, and not innocent children who are born here not of their own accord and who our courts have said are United States citizens."
Paul booed over Cuba stance
In this, the heart of Cuban-American country where Fidel Castro is still ostracized, Paul was loudly booed when he called for improved relations with Cuba.
"We're at a time when we need to talk to Cuba and travel and trade with Cuba," he said.
As he spoke, other Republican presidential campaigns e-mailed reporters news releases pointing out that Huckabee has supported an end to the Cuban embargo. It's a position shared by a number of Republicans and Democrats, particularly in the Midwest, where farmers say a new opening with the island nation would provide an expanded market for their goods.
The candidates, with the exception of Paul, denounced Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez as a tyrant.
Asked how to deal with Chavez, both Giuliani and McCain made reference to Spain's King Juan Carlos recent retort to Chavez during a November summit in Chile of Latin American nations and Spain and Portugal: "Porque no te callas?" (Why don't you shut up?)
At one point Romney stumbled when describing the health care plan he helped institute while governor of Massachusetts. The plan requires individuals to obtain health insurance or face penalties.
But in his reply to a question about health care, Romney said: "You need to have health insurance for all of our citizens. And I've found a way to do that without requiring raising taxes, without a government mandate, without a government takeover."
He promptly corrected himself, to say he meant that the Massachusetts plan does not place a mandate on employers to provide health care.
Debate forced to be rescheduled
Initially scheduled for September, the debate had to be rescheduled because only McCain had agreed to appear. This time, the only candidate who refused to attend was Tom Tancredo, a long-shot candidate who has made a tough immigration stance the centerpiece of his campaign.
McCain, Romney and Giuliani voiced support for school choice for parents. Romney also stressed improving teacher pay, and Duncan Hunter, a California congressman, expressed dissatisfaction with what he called "old credentialing," calling for school systems to use people such as aerospace engineers to inspire students.
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