New Mexico governor criticizes Romney’s ideas on immigration

Mona Shield Payne

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks at the Nevada Republican caucus Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, at the Red Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

By Tovin Lapan (contact)

Tuesday, May 15, 2012 | 4:45 p.m.

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, who some prognosticators predicted could be a running-mate for Mitt Romney, has come out against the presumptive Republican presidential nominee's immigration policy.

In a Newsweek article published online Monday, Martinez, a Republican who started her career as a Democrat, says she is an advocate of comprehensive immigration reform.

"'Self-deport?' What the heck does that mean?" Martinez told Newsweek. "I have no doubt Hispanics have been alienated during this campaign. But now there's an opportunity for Gov. Romney to have a sincere conversation about what we can do and why."

Martinez goes on to explain some of what she means by "comprehensive reform."

From Newsweek:

Martinez envisions an approach "with multiple levels:" increased border security; deportation for criminals; a guest-worker program for people who want "to go freely back and forth across the border to work;" a DREAM Act-style pathway to citizenship, through the military or college, for children brought here illegally by their parents; and a visa (coupled with a "penalty" or a "tagback") that allows rest of the illegal population to remain in the U.S. while they follow standard naturalization procedures.