Yes, it is, and for good reason: both issues are very important. Illegal immigration must be stopped, but our legal immigration policy is insane. We're granting visas to far too many uneducated, unskilled third world peasants simply because they have relatives in the US.
Because they have few marketable skills and little education, most LEGAL immigrants have low incomes, which results in them consuming far more govenment services than they pay for in taxes. That also makes them natural democrats once they eventually become citizens.
NumbersUSA is absolutely correct in docking politicians who support the chain migration policies that perpetuate this madness.
That being said, Thompson, to his credit, has come out against chain migration recently and is supporting reducing legal immigration numbers, as well as keeping out the uneducated low-skill hoards.
His record on immigration as senator hasn't been very good, but as a Romney supporter, I am certainly in no position to fault a man for having a change of heart.
I'll be honest and say that so far, I prefer Thompson on the immigration issue, at least the one he's most recently endorsed. I still support Romney because I think he is better qualified, and he's good on illegal immigration, but I do wish he'd come up with a more specific plan on what he'd do to reform or insane legal immigration policies. So far he's been extremely vague.
My hope is that Thompson will gain some traction in his coming out against chain migration and Romney will follow suit.
I think you make some good points but two things concern me about Fred. First, as you indicate, these are “recent” positions on illegal immigration. Even the RINO’s are now becoming “born again” supporters of secure borders now that it’s a hot issue with the base. Where were they when Tancredo and Hunter were fighting the good fight before it became popular? Second, Thompson is still opposed to stiff penalties against employers who are breaking the law by hiring illegals. This is crucial. If the jobs magnet disappears the illegal invasion will die of attrition. In other words, I’m skeptical about the motives of any politicians who have come belatedly to secure borders now that it’s a paramount issue. Where have they been all these years and what’s their past record?