Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) said Saturday the U.S. has a problem with “legal immigration.”
The past and possibly future presidential candidate said illegal immigration and border control are not the only issues facing the country, and that those workers are costing American jobs.
{mosads}“We also have a problem with legal immigration,” Santorum told a crowd of conservative voters at the Iowa Freedom Summit. “Legal immigration is at an all-time high.
“We are approaching the highest level of immigrants that we’ve ever had in America,” he added. “There are more people not born in this country than have ever been in the history of this country.”
Santorum claimed that the influx of more workers is taking away jobs and holding down wages for the middle class.
“It’s affecting American workers,” Santorum said. “We need an immigration policy that puts American workers first.”
Santorum defended his views, saying his views aren’t “anti-immigrant. I am for legal immigration.”
Santorum also fondly recalled his time in Iowa, where he narrowly won the 2012 caucuses, propelling him to be the insurgent favorite and runner-up to eventual nominee Mitt Romney.
The former senator also hit on social issues, underscoring his conservative positions against gay marriage and abortion.
One of Santorum’s largest applause lines came when he hit education standards — unpopular with the conservative base and a liability of one of his potential rivals, former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-Fla.).
“We need less Common Core and more common sense,” said Santorum.