Giuliani: Kids of Illegal Immigrants OK
Friday, November 30, 2007 3:01 PM
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BLUFFTON, S.C. -- Republican White House hopeful Rudy Giuliani said Friday he wouldn't try to change laws that make citizens of children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants, noting that it's a matter determined by the Constitution.
"That's a very delicate balance that's been arrived at, and I wouldn't change that," Giuliani said in response to a question while campaigning at Sun City Hilton Head, a sprawling retirement community down the South Carolina coast from Charleston.
In Wednesday night's Republican debate, Giuliani and nomination rival Mitt Romney traded accusations of being soft on illegal immigration, and Giuliani took pains to deny that New York was a "sanctuary city" for illegal immigrants during his tenure as mayor.
While New York has never used the designation, it offers protections _ allowing illegal immigrants to report crimes, send kids to school or seek medical treatment without fear of being reported _ similar to those in cities that label themselves sanctuary cities.
Children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants already are American citizens, and Giuliani said he would not try to change that.
On another topic, the former New York mayor criticized his Democratic opponents, saying they argue too much over how and when they might meet with foreign leaders, including Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, with whom the U.S. is not on good terms.
Giuliani said the only invitation Ahmadinejad should get "is to read a statement of an American policy ... we will not allow you to become a nuclear power."
Friday morning's event was Giuliani's first town hall-style appearance since the report this week that a New York City police security detail billed obscure city agencies for protecting him and Judith Nathan, who later became his third wife, while he was still married to his second wife, Donna Hanover.
Giuliani's campaign wouldn't make him available to reporters Friday and he ignored a reporter's question about it afterward.
None in the crowd asked him about the billing disclosures during the event, although some grumbled about it beforehand.
"I don't think that's proper," said Paul Schaefer, 79, who is trying to decide between Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain. In a close call, the security detail flap could make up his mind, he said.
It's less of a concern for 69-year-old Edward Grzelak. The affair and the political side of Giuliani's life shouldn't be linked, said the retired driver from New Jersey.
"Business is business. Personal life is another thing. One thing doesn't have a thing to do with the other," he said. Giuliani will get his vote largely because of his performance after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, Grzelak said.
© 2007 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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