Rick Perry Knocks Ronald Reagan On ‘Amnesty’ Legislation

Republican presidential candidate former Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks during a pre-debate forum at the Quicken Loans Arena, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015, in Cleveland. Seven of the candidates have not qualified for the pri... Republican presidential candidate former Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks during a pre-debate forum at the Quicken Loans Arena, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015, in Cleveland. Seven of the candidates have not qualified for the prime time debate. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) MORE LESS
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Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry took a swing at Ronald Reagan — the 40th president who is typically the subject of worship among conservative circles — for signing legislation that made millions of undocumented immigrants eligible to apply for legal status in 1986.

“Americans are tired of hearing this debate want to go to, ‘What are you going to do about illegal immigration?'” Perry said during Thursday’s GOP debate for lower-tier candidates. “For 30 years this country has been baited with that, all the way back to when Ronald Reagan signed a piece of legislation that basically allowed for amnesty for over 4 million people and the border is still not secure.”

“The American people are never going to trust Washington, D.C. And for good reason,” he continued.

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