Illegal immigration is perhaps one of the hottest issues in the 1st Congressional District race and has forced Rep. Wayne Gilchrest to defend why the nine-term congressman has voted in some cases for amnesty for illegals.

At a candidate forum, Gilchrest said his vote on the farm jobs bill was “oversimplified.” He added the bill “does not give a pass to anyone” but allows immigrants to be legal temporary workers, an important component of the work force for agriculture on the Eastern Shore and around the country.