Illegal Immigrants, 2012 Presidential Election | featured news

President Obama's plan to ease rules for some illegal immigrants is likely to shore up his standing among crucial Latino voters while igniting a new fight with Republicans as he seeks reelection.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, facing a conservative backlash over his labeling as heartless those who oppose his state law giving college tuition breaks to the children of illegal immigrants, said Wednesday that the tone of his remarks was “inappropriate.”

In an on-camera interview with Newsmax.com, a conservative media outlet, Perry said he had been “over-passionate” in his answer to a question about the law during last week’s GOP presidential candidates debate.

Of all the punches thrown at Gov. Rick Perry during last week's Republican presidential debate, few landed harder than questions about Perry's support for a Texas bill allowing in-state college tuition for illegal immigrants.