But the likely presidential candidate apparently stood on another side of that debate as the Milwaukee County Executive in 2006. That year, he signed a resolution calling on Congress to pass the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act, a bill authored by John McCain and Teddy Kennedy that was denounced at the time by conservatives as “amnesty” — and remains anathema to party activists.
Walker faces a tricky balancing act in tackling immigration policy, as he tries to square his long legislative record with his current attempt to position himself as the candidate with appeal for both major Republican donors — many of whom vocally support comprehensive reform — and right-wing activists who favor stricter policies.
To tackle that challenge, Walker will roll out an articulated immigration stance in the coming weeks. In the meantime his staff responded to questions about his past positions by pointing to his current opposition to President Barack Obama’s recent executive order.
“First, Obama’s executive action should be repealed, it isn’t fair to hardworking Americans and to those who have waited in line to do things the right way and only incentivizes further illegal behavior. That’s why Wisconsin joined with other states to fight it in court,” spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said.
“After that we need absolute security at our borders and then we can address fixing our legal immigration system and deal with those here illegally but amnesty is not the answer.”
