Immigration Issue Spurs Sharp Debate

President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney sparred over immigration, with Romney saying that a streamlined legal system would best serve immigrants and Obama reiterating his accomplishments on the issue during his term.

“I want our legal system to work better,” Romney began. “I want it to be streamlined. I want it to be clearer. I don't think you have to — shouldn't have to hire a lawyer to figure out how to get into this country legally.”

Romney said he would stop illegal immigration. “There are 4 million people who are waiting in line to get here legally. Those who've come here illegally take their place,” Romney said. “I will not grant amnesty to those who have come here illegally.”

He attacked Obama’s June amnesty program for children of illegal immigrants who were born in this country, making them eligible for work permits and driver’s licenses.

“I won't put in place magnets for people coming here illegally. So for instance, I would not give driver's licenses to those that have come here illegally, as the president would.”

He said such children “should have a pathway to become a permanent resident of the United States and military service, for instance, is one way they would have that kind of pathway to become a permanent resident.”

But Obama said his administration streamlined the immigration process, “to reduce the backlog, make it easier, simpler and cheaper for people who are waiting in line, obeying the law to make sure that they can come here and contribute to our country — and that's good for our economic growth.”

“We do have to deal with our border, so we put more border patrol on the – and the flow of undocumented works across the border is actually lower than it's been in 40 years.”

He added that he was targeting illegal immigrants who were criminals. “We should do it smartly and go after folks who are criminals, gang bangers, people who are hurting the community – not after students, not after folks who are here just because they're trying to figure out how to feed their families.”