Politics

Mitt: I’m More Conservative On Immigration Than Trump

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Saagar Enjeti White House Correspondent
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Aspiring Republican Senator Mitt Romney told a Utah audience Monday is more conservative than President Donald Trump on immigration.

“I’m also more of a hawk on immigration than even the president,” Romney told the audience when questioned about the differences between himself and Trump. “My view was these DACA kids shouldn’t all be allowed to stay in the country legally.”

Trump has endorsed a pathway to citizenship for recipients of the Obama-era protections for illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children in exchange for funding for his proposed border wall, an end to chain migration, and an end to the diversity visa lottery system. The administration’s legislative efforts, however, have been stymied by the Senate. Additionally, the Supreme Court opted not to pick up a DACA case which effectively delayed action until next year.

Romeny has long been a conservative hawk on immigration and advocated for “self-deportation” in the 2012 campaign against former President Barack Obama.

The former Republican presidential candidate also said in 2012 that he would veto congressional efforts to legalize illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.