NBC Latino, News Report, Posted: Oct 17, 2012

Many Latinos were hoping Mitt Romney and Barack Obama would finally talk about immigration in their second debate last night, and it happened. Governor Romney was asked what he would do with undocumented immigrants living here. Governor Romney said he “does not want more illegal immigrants,” and said that he would not support amnesty, nor would he give undocumented immigrants drivers’ licenses. Romney also said he had not called Arizona a model for the nation, saying he meant e-verify was the model.

President Obama countered Romney’s statement saying Romney had indeed called Arizona a model, proof being that SB1070 author Kris Kobach was one of his campaign advisors, and said Romney called for ‘self-deportation.’ Governor Romney then answered the question on self-deportation, calling it a ‘choice” and an act of ‘free will,’ comments which elicited a scathing criticism from Latino Democrats.

Democratic Congressman Xavier Becerra said Governor Romney called undocumented immigrants “illegals,” whereas Obama uses the word "undocumented." ”As a son of immigrants, to know they are respected as humans is very important — Mitt Romney called them illegals, illegals, illegals,” says Becerra. “No one wants to believe their humanity is any less.”

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