MANCHESTER, N.H. – Newt Gingrich on Sunday reached out to Hispanic voters at an event here today, touting his plan to protect the border while expanding legal immigration.
Appearing at the Mexican/Caribbean restaurant Don Quijote and introduced by his daughter, partially in Spanish, Gingrich made the case for a new energy policy and a Reagan-style economic policy. The restaurant was crammed with attendees, reporters and protesters. A number of “Occupy” protesters surrounded the restaurant at some point and began banging on the glass.
He also argued for tightening security along the border to prevent the flow of guns and drugs, saying that it was in the interest of the U.S. to make sure that Mexico doesn’t become a failed state.
On immigration, he said beyond securing the border, he believed in enforcing restrictions on employers hiring illegal immigrants and making it easier to deport those who became members of gangs. At the same time, he said he wanted to make it easier for people to enter the U.S. legally and advocated a guest worker program run by American Express or Visa.
In 2008, Latinos made up 2 percent of the New Hampshire voters during the general election.
