Ahnuld: “Close the Borders” to “Those People”

“Close the borders in California and all across Mexico and in the United States,” [Gov. Arnold] Schwarzenegger said at the annual meeting of the Newspaper Association of America. “Because I think it is just unfair to have all those people coming across, have the borders open the way it is, and have this kind of lax situation.” More below:

Schwarzenegger’s remarks were later clarified by his spokeswoman, …

“… [H]e feels they need to enter the country the right way, and must not undermine important security issues. He feels that the border needs to be secure.”

.. Schwarzenegger also suggested exploring several policy proposals aimed at addressing illegal immigration, including President Bush’s proposed guest worker program and federal legislation to pave the way for undocumented workers in the United States to attain legal status.

[………]

It’s not the first time Schwarzenegger, who emigrated from Austria as a young man, has become entangled in the emotional debate surrounding illegal immigration.

Schwarzenegger has been repeatedly grilled on why he voted for a 1994 ballot measure to deny many basic services to illegal immigrants. Shortly after entering office, he derailed a law that would have allowed illegal immigrants to apply for drivers licenses.

In February, Schwarzenegger endorsed congressional legislation authorizing the construction of a fence along California’s border with Mexico.