Has The Texas GOP Gone Soft on Immigration?
Cal Jillson, political science professor at SMU's Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, talks about Texas Republicans' stance on immigration.
By Victor Garcia
Some in Texas are taking note that Governor Rick Perry and state Republicans are seemingly taking the emphasis off border enforcement and undocumented immigrants.
One clue, as Fronteras Desk pointed out on its website Thursday, is that in the Texas State Legislature that convened Tuesday, Gov. Perry’s opening remarks were devoid of any mention of “sanctuary cities” or an SB 1070 bill much like the one that was passed in Arizona, .
The online publication notes that this wasn’t the case in 2011 when in his opening remarks to the 82nd Texas Legislature Perry included his stance to abolish “sanctuary cities” among the “emergency items” he listed.
“Perry leaving immigration out this time… is [the GOP] trying not to be as in your face about the topic,” said Prof. Calvin Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. “I think rhetorically they’re going in a new direction.”
Perry, who campaigned for the presidency last year before dropping out after a quick rise and fall in the polls, was criticized by Republican voters for being too soft on immigration. He was even booed by a debate crowd after he defended his stance on legislation giving financial aid to undocumented students.
“If you've been in Texas for three years, if you're working towards your college degree, and if you are working and pursuing citizenship, you pay in-state tuition there. And the bottom line is it doesn't make any difference what the sound of your last name is. That is the American way,” Perry said back in September at a debate hosted by the Tea Party Express and CNN....