The One Mexican Border-Crossing Immigrant Family That Tancredo Likes? The Romneys
The One Mexican Border-Crossing Immigrant Family That Tancredo Likes? The Romneys
Our guest blogger is Henry Fernandez, a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress focusing on state and municipal policy.
Tom Tancredo, the only candidate for president from either party to declare himself in opposition to legal immigration, and to have a specific aversion to Mexican immigration, dropped out of the presidential race last week. Then he did something quite odd — he endorsed Mitt Romney, the only candidate whose father was born in Mexico and whose family made use of the porous border to immigrate between Mexico and the United States.
Tancredo made his endorsement because he was enamored by Romney’s recent — apparently hypocritical — conversion on immigration. Romney has been running ads across Iowa decrying what he now believes is the horrible impact of “illegal immigrants.”
Well here’s a little fact check for Tancredo.
Mitt Romney’s father George was born in Chihuahua, Mexico in 1907, the son of Gaskell Romney and Anna Amelia Pratt. Three generations of Romneys lived in Mexico because Miles Park Romney, a polygamist, moved the family there in 1884 as it became increasingly clear that the U.S. government would not tolerate polygamy in the Utah Territory. The 1882 Edmunds Act stripped polygamists of the basic rights of U.S. citizenship, denying them the right to vote, serve on juries or hold office. Not dissimilar to current immigration raids, U.S. federal agents hunted and arrested polygamists. Polygamists were forced to leave the country or risk jail.
Miles chose to leave the country, bringing his multiple wives and children with him across the southern border. In his 1902 book The Story of the Mormons, author William Alexander Linn states that the “Secretario de Fomento of Mexico” related that “The laws of this country [Mexico] do not permit polygamy,” and that the contracts for the establishment of Mormon colonies in Mexico required the same. If true, Miles Romney then knowingly arrived in direct violation of Mexican immigration law.
Utah became a state in 1896, only after laws were passed there prohibiting polygamy. While polygamy may have been illegal in both countries, the Romneys still found Mexico more to their liking. All four of George’s grandparents would live out their days in Mexico, with Anna’s mother Dorsey being the last to die — in Chihuahua in 1929.
Gaskell and Anna (who were monogamous) were married in 1895, and according to George’s biographer Tom Mahoney, lived in Chihuahua until the height of the Mexican Revolution in 1912. Relative Junius Romney negotiated with rebel leaders to get women and children out of the colony for their safety. Anna, with Mitt’s father George in tow, fled across the U.S. border by train (with no apparent delay or search at the border). A short time later Gaskell, like many Mexican immigrants before and since, covered hundreds of miles under a hot sun, crossing by land into New Mexico.
As a Mexican born immigrant, George would do quite honorably, becoming Governor of Michigan and running for the Republican nomination for President in 1968. His support for civil rights and opposition to the Vietnam War resulted in his loss to Richard Nixon. His son Mitt is of course where this post began.
Perhaps it’s not just Tancredo who needs a quick reminder of the Romney family history?
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Ouch!
December 24th, 2007 at 4:14 pmI mean, just OUCH!
December 24th, 2007 at 4:14 pmTancrendo "It's not illegal immigration unless you are brown"
1.
Ouch!
Comment by JPV — December 24, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
No kidding.
December 24th, 2007 at 4:22 pmEach and every election year the Repugs put the immigration, abortion, gay wedge issues out there... stir up the prejudice... divert attention from the real issues. What would happen if the Repugs had to talk about real issues?
December 24th, 2007 at 4:30 pmImmigration could be settled if we went back to the days before Reagan - fine the employer heavily if caught hiring an undocumented person. It was under Reagan a blind eye was turned so big business could benefit.
WoW! That's going to leave a mark...
Oh, and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
December 24th, 2007 at 4:32 pmCan you explain how someone not born in this country was able to run for President? The requirement of being born in this country has been in the Constitution since 1789.
December 24th, 2007 at 4:43 pmHow did an illegal immigrant run for president in 1968, much less in 2007?
December 24th, 2007 at 4:44 pmIf this biography is true, Romney is toast.
Hm...if the Edmunds Act caused you to be stripped of your basic rights of citizenship, George - being a Mexican native born to parents whose citizenship rights had been renounced and had fled the country - wasn't even eligible to be President in the first place, given the 14th Amendment. No?
December 24th, 2007 at 4:48 pmIf it is true that George Romney was born in Mexico, how could he have been a candidate for President?
December 24th, 2007 at 4:50 pmWell now, Isn't this special......does papa bush know about this?
December 24th, 2007 at 4:52 pmThe first Congress of the United States on March 26, 1790, passed legislation that said: "The children of citizens of the United States that may be born beyond the sea, or outside the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural-born citizens of the United States."
So apparently George Romney was eligible for president in 1968, as long as his parents were U.S. citizens.
December 24th, 2007 at 4:54 pmDid Tancredo read Mitt biography?...He still has few days to change his mind..!!
December 24th, 2007 at 4:56 pmHe may have had dual citizenship as well. I don't think that someone who is was not a born US citizen could have gotten around that amendment.
December 24th, 2007 at 4:56 pmTancredo does not care about his religion. He just cares he is WHITE. Tancredo should watch the movie True Romance when Dennis Hopper explains that Italians are part eggplant.
December 24th, 2007 at 5:11 pmOuch!
Comment by JPV
Ouchiwhawha! Chinga tu madre! Cabron!
December 24th, 2007 at 5:33 pm"Tancredo" doesn't sound like a Native American name. What tribe does he belong to?
December 24th, 2007 at 5:42 pmHey, look, Tancredo is entitled to his opinion. He's crazy, he's a bigot, he's in it for himself. So let's not give him any more attention than he needs.
December 24th, 2007 at 5:45 pmAs Republican candidates speak out against immigrants they seem to forget their baby boomers. Yes Daddy Mitt crossed over to freedom but now Rod Paul's Dad never became an American. But his children were born in the USA. Nice to see how the children of immigrants now want others not to have the opportunity they had. If children born in the US have to leave because their parents aren't citizens I say send Arnie back because he married Maria just to become an American as we see.
December 24th, 2007 at 6:09 pmWhat our guest blogger forgot to note is that he's married to the former head of a NewHaven CT nonprofit that is/was collaborating with the Mexican government. She also lead the charge to get that city to distribute an ID card for use by illegal aliens. And, oddly enough, the mayor of that town may have a financial interest in the scheme due to a bank.
As for the post, the NYT link says Tancredo's "platform calls for restrictions even on legal immigration"; somehow Fernandez has morphed that into "declar[ing] himself in opposition to legal immigration". Does the reader think those are the same?
The second link about an aversion to Mexican immigration doesn't have a single word with "mexic" in it.
As for the post's attempt to hide massive lawbreaking behind something one group and the Romney family did over a hundred years ago, does Fernandez think everyone here is five years old?
December 24th, 2007 at 6:31 pm#11 I understand the post, and good info it is, but how does this family live two generations in Mexico and still remain US citizens? Not saying it cannot be done, just wondering.
And if the Romney's were always US citizens, why is this whole blog even news???
December 24th, 2007 at 6:32 pm#11 I understand the post, and good info it is, but how does this family live two generations in Mexico and still remain US citizens? Not saying it cannot be done, just wondering.
And if the Romney’s were always US citizens, why is this whole blog even news???
Comment by HighPlainsJoker — December 24, 2007 @ 6:32 pm
According to the post, the polygamists were stripped of the "basic rights of US citizens", but it's not entirely clear if that means they were stripped of citizenship, period. If it was the latter case, then presumably their descendants, born outside the US were themselves not citizens.
December 24th, 2007 at 6:42 pmAnd if there was a problem here, which there isn’t, George Romney, who was also President of American Motors and Governor of Michigan, would be 100 years old this year….
And he’s been dead for 12 years…
Grasping at straw?
I think so…
Comment by O. Bigfoot — December 24, 2007 @ 6:38 pm
You didn't notice any reference to his son, did you? Not paying attention, yet again?
In case you hadn't noticed, his son is alive and he's running for President. You really should get out more.
December 24th, 2007 at 6:44 pmTancredo also has some explaining to do about how he weaseled his way out of being drafted!
December 24th, 2007 at 6:51 pmHe spent the first four years after registering for the draft with a Student Deferment! Then he drops out of School in the middle of Nov '68. and is made 1-A, eligible to be drafted! No one wants to be drafted in '68 or '69!
All of a sudden School-Boy Tom re-registers back in school 27 days later in the middle of Dec, 12 days before Christmas! I guess you'd consider that a early Christmas Present!
He retains his 2-S deferment until he's called up for a Physical prior to induction, which he passes on June 23,1969.
On July 15,1969 he's 1-A again holding that deferment until May 12,1970 when he's rated 1-Y!
What happened between June 23,1969 and May 12,1970 to poor old Tom, who was on the fast track to heading to the rice paddy's of Nam!
Well on 1 Dec '69, the first Lottery Draft for Vietnam for draftee's in 1970 was held! What was Tom's number, it was 135 and numbers up to 195 were snatched up in 1970!
But wait, Tom had a Ace up his sleeve, 15 days after his lucky number was drawn, he appealed to the Board as Physically Unable to Serve his Country! By May 12,1970 Tom was rated 1-Y= Rejected, "Unable to Serve, unless of War or National Emergency"
What was Tom The Big Iraqi War Supporters reason for being unable to serve, "Childhood Depression"!
It didn't bother him from 10-20-64 till 11-28-68 while in College! it only bothered him after he was found "Fit to Serve, and had drawn a guaranteed trip across the pond, by winning the Vietnam Draft Lottery with a good number!
That's how big and brave Tancredo is when it comes to actually serving his Country in "Time of War!
All Talk, No Action Tom"
I received this info from a FOIA to the Selective Service. Tom's Selective Service Number was 5-1-45-462 if you want to FOIA his record for yourself!
I support Mitt Romney for President. One of my hobbies is automotive history. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
That being the case, I knew more about the Romney family a decade ago than you do now.
Anything else to say?
Comment by O. Bigfoot — December 24, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
Only that you must be dumber than I thought if you think Mitt Romney is a conservative.
Mitt has flipped and flopped on virtually every issue imaginable; anything to get himself elected. Although he hasn't even show much grit on that, either, since he's only served one four-year term. I've seen a lot of opportunistic politicians over the years, but Romney takes the cake. It doesn't much surprise me to hear that he buffaloed you completely, though.
December 24th, 2007 at 6:59 pmWhy does this surprise anyone..Tancredo's IQ is lower than dubya's so to think/read/research this AT ALL would be out of scope for them...
But ouch and HAAA!!
December 24th, 2007 at 7:13 pmGummitch: Mittler is taking on even more swastika-like paraphernalia than you might expect: See this blog from Salon's Glenn Greenwald. Hard to believe, but proven, it his own words.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/12/23/romney/index.html
O. Bigfoot: You actually support this? Stop blogging, you will be monitored and jailed, because even your tripe is too liberal for this guy.....
December 24th, 2007 at 7:13 pmO. Bigfoot: You actually support this? Stop blogging, you will be monitored and jailed, because even your tripe is too liberal for this guy…..
Comment by HighPlainsJoker — December 24, 2007 @ 7:13 pm
I doubt that. Bigfoot probably loves Romney's totalitarian belief system.
December 24th, 2007 at 7:22 pmThe GOP candidates should just not speak about immigration during the campaign. As we see Mitt's Dad was not a natural born American. Most of the candidates in both parties have parents who might not have ever become American citizens. You must remember the candidates are baby boomers and things were different back then. Alot of parents chose to not get US citizenship as they lived the American dream. Of course their children were born in the USA. Now Fred Thompson's family roots in interesting as his mother is the story. McCain was born in Panama.
December 24th, 2007 at 7:59 pmRomney is illegal immigrant spawn. the whole clan should be sent back to Mexico ASAP. For the good of the country mind you. 9-11 changed everything, and we can't have any foreign religious extremists running around the country, especially those who have shown that they'll flaunt the law when it suits them. Sorry Bigfoot, but if you want to feel better, go next door to the foreclosed house and see if there's anything else you can loot.
December 24th, 2007 at 8:12 pmWhat a great Christmas story! I'm alright, Jack--I got mine . . . . .
December 24th, 2007 at 8:12 pmO BigMoron is a Mormon?
December 24th, 2007 at 8:39 pmThat explains a lot -- especially the "don't worry, be happy" attitude.
He may have had dual citizenship as well. I don’t think that someone who is was not a born US citizen could have gotten around that amendment.
Comment by Krazny — December 24, 2007 @ 4:56 pm
He may have, gasp, lied!
December 24th, 2007 at 9:16 pmComment by O. Bigfoot — December 24, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
That might explain your pro-Crusade, pro-nuke, pro-liar, stance.
December 24th, 2007 at 9:19 pmG'night good people. Peace and joy to you and your's.
You too trolls.
December 24th, 2007 at 9:47 pm#23
December 25th, 2007 at 12:16 amYou would think he would have wanted to go to Vietnam so he could kill a bunch of yellow skinned bastards. If they could just paint their skin brown he would have swimmed over there on his own.
Wikipedia says:
"(George) Romney (1907-1995) was born in Colonia Dublán, Galeana, in the Mexican state of Chihuahua to Gaskell Romney (1871-1955), of English ancestry, and wife Anna Amelia Pratt (1876-1926), born to an American father and a German mother. Romney's grandparents were polygamous Mormons who fled the United States because the federal government was hunting down polygamists."
It mentions that he ran for president in 1968 but does not resolve the conflict with the Constitution.
Off topic , but it reminds me of Alberto Gonzalez' answer when asked if his grandparents came to the US legally. He said "That is unclear"!
December 25th, 2007 at 2:31 amgdchoate, re your question in #6...this requirement is ALWAYS misstated...candidates for president have to be natural-born US citizens, not naturalized citizens. They do NOT have to be born on US soil to be natural-born citizens! My 100% American children were born in Amsterdam, just as their US passports say. They were born to an American mother and that's why they're born Americans, not naturalized citizens. They can run for president even though they were not born in this country, they were born American!
I wish people understood this. Many natural-born Americans are born outside the country.
December 25th, 2007 at 7:55 amYou may be right gummitch, Mitt isn't a conservative and neither is Bush for that matter. They are both right wingers and would be insults to any conservatives who may be left in the GOP.
December 25th, 2007 at 8:48 amI support Mitt Romney for President. One of my hobbies is auto-fellatio. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Anything else to say?
Comment by O. Bigfoot — December 24, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
Other than the confession about yer personal hobbies, which we had already figured out, the rest is neither important nor verifiable.
Ho... ho... ho... nice Jingle Ballsâ„¢...
December 25th, 2007 at 9:23 amRomney should be appreciative to Mexico for sheltering three generations of his family who escaped strict USA laws of polygamy. Romeny must not forget that.
December 25th, 2007 at 9:54 amWhat puzzles me is why George Romney was allowed to run for president if he was born in Mexico. Is it not a requirement for the president to be a natural citizen?
December 25th, 2007 at 10:24 amFor heaven's sake! Please do not let this idiot guest blogger write more on the subject of immigration unless he learns just a bit of the basics of immigration law. The laws regarding citizenship to foreign-born children have changed over the years (generally having to do with the amount of time a US parent had to have lived in the US to transmit citizenship) but there was never any question that George Romney was a US citizen at birth under the laws then in force. So he was not an immigrant. He was a US citizen returning to the US.
December 25th, 2007 at 10:46 amTwo hypocritical rethugs in a love fest now there is something new.
December 25th, 2007 at 11:04 amExcellent. This will be in his face until he goes away or stands up and addresses this one. I'd bet on 'goes away'
December 25th, 2007 at 11:12 amChief Justice Melville Fuller, dissenting in U.S. v Wong Kim Ark (1898), said:
“Thus the fourteenth amendment is held to be merely declaratory, except that it brings all persons, irrespective of color, within the scope of the alleged rule, and puts that rule beyond the control of the legislative power.
“If the conclusion of the majority opinion is correct, then the children of citizens of the United States, who have been born abroad since July 28, 1868, when the [fourteenth] amendment was declared ratified, were and are aliens, unless they have or shall, on attaining majority, become citizens by naturalization in the United States; and no statutory provision to the contrary is of any force or effect.â€
So, to Chief Justice Fuller, having been “born abroad†in Mexico, Mitt Romney definitely does not qualify as a Fourteenth-Amendment first-sentence citizen of the United States AT BIRTH. (Senator John McCain, for that matter, was also "born abroad" in the unincorporated U.S. territory of Panama Canal Zone).
Romney (and McCain) belongs to the statutory citizens Congress claims to possess the power to confer under the Naturalization Clause, even upon persons AT BIRTH, although naturalization is defined as the status that can only be conferred AFTER BIRTH.
December 25th, 2007 at 8:34 pm"So, RoS, have they got you ready to strap on a bomb and blow up some Americans yet? I figure with your hatred of your own nation and people, its only a matter of time."
I LOVE the incredible hypocrisy from good old O. He supports a candidate that was born in Mexico to generations of people that fled the country so they could have multiple wives. Where is the love for America? So...they broke the law and fled to Mexico. How is that so much different from Mexicans breaking the law by fleeing to the US? You can't demonize one without demonizing the other.
December 25th, 2007 at 10:03 pmMitt's family fled the US because they didn't love the country more than having more than one wife. If you are ok with that, that is fine. Or maybe you are for polygamy?
December 25th, 2007 at 10:32 pmWhat's happening on the Republican party ?? How come they are letting these types of candidates run ?? Or are they comfortable with them because they know the Democrats won't attack them on this issues ?? Please someone explain this to me ...
December 26th, 2007 at 9:22 amHuh. Guess Pretty Mitty comes by his hypocrisy naturally. He was born with it.
December 26th, 2007 at 10:40 amWhy don't any journalists ask Mitt about his father George's opposition to the War in Vietnam?
Probably for the same reason that they don't ask Dumbya Bush about his grandfather who was a founder of Planned Parenthood and its lawyer.
December 26th, 2007 at 10:57 amHoly f**king shit...George Romney was born in Mexico? And this is the first I've ever heard of that? How in hell could that man even CONSIDER running for PRESIDENT? Who would give him a dime, knowing he was constitutionally ineligible to hold the office in the first place?
Dick Cheney and George W. Bush were BOTH residents of TEXAS when they stole the election, a CLEAR disregard for the laws set down in the Constitution. Republicans everywhere wish to the bottoms of their black hearts that Ah-nold Schwarzenegger had been born in America so HE could run--especially THIS YEAR!
Flouting the Constitution to grab the most powerful position on earth--a Republican tradition for CENTURIES now. God DAMN them to hell forever for stealing my country!
December 26th, 2007 at 12:06 pmPublic Service Annoucement: PLEASE DON'T FEED THE TROLLS
December 26th, 2007 at 6:40 pm