To stop illegal immigration in the United States, the next president must start "enforcing the laws at all levels in this country" and focus on American working families, Republican candidate Scott Walker told
Newsmax TV on Tuesday.
"We need to have a legal immigration system that goes forward in a way that really puts a priority on American working families and their wages in a way that can fuel the American economy," the Wisconsin governor told "Newsmax Prime" host J.D. Hayworth in an exclusive interview. "If you start enforcing the law, the sanctuary-city issues we've heard about and others will take care of itself going forward."
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Walker, who is in his second term, said that The Wall Street Journal was "not accurate" when it said that he supported letting illegals remain in the country and possibly obtain citizenship.
He said he formed his current position after talking with GOP Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other border-state governors.
"I spent the time this past year listening to people, talking to people across the country, listening to folks who have been working day in and day out on the issue of immigration and dealing with the challenge, particularly on border states," Walker said. "I've taken a different path in regard to that position because I listen.
"People want a president who when the American people are telling him firmly what they want is willing to listen."
That also includes opposing amnesty, Walker said.
"If you take people who are here and you allow them to become citizens in particular, I don't think that's the right approach. I don't believe in amnesty," he said.
"You've got to go in order: You've got to secure the border, otherwise you're just opening the floodgates to bigger problems in the future that go far beyond immigration. You've got to start the process of enforcing the law in this country — and then you got to put an emphasis a legal immigration system as I've said that really puts a priority on American working families and their wages.
"When you do that, it'll help grow the American economy."
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