Tennessee 2006 Senate Debate: on Immigration

Bob Corker: Fired four illegal immigrants as soon as contract allowed

Q: Your views on illegal immigration?

FORD: I have never hired an illegal immigrant. He has. Four of them. A worksite of his was raided, by federal law enforcement agents. I was not with Pres. Bush on granting amnesty to illegal immigrants.

CORKER: No one has ever worked for me who's an illegal immigrant. 18 years ago, one of thousands of my subcontractors hired four people--and the INS applauded me for how quickly I ended that problem.

FORD: Why didn't you just fire them when you learned about it? Why did you wait for the INS to come back 3 times before doing something?

CORKER: We had a contract, so we couldn't just fire them. We rectified it quickly. My opponent is trying to make an issue out of an issue that doesn't exist.

FORD: You ought to take responsibility for knowing that there were illegals working on your site, and you did nothing to stop them.

Source: 2006 TN Senate debate, at Univ. of Chattanooga, x-ref Ford Oct 10, 2006

Bob Corker: Use technology to improve fence along Mexican border

Q: Do you support building the fence along the Mexican border?

CORKER: I visited the border and I've seen holes in the border fence. People of all nationalities are coming through that border. We need to ensure that we use technology, and use those things necessary so we know who's coming & going. We need to make sure that we allow people to work here, but only if they're legal. We need instant employer certification so employers know if people they're hiring are legal, & punish employers who don't

Source: 2006 TN Senate debate, at University of Chattanooga Oct 10, 2006