Alaskan Gov Sarah Palin McCain's Pick For VP

Palin breaks silence on border debate
'There is no way that in the U.S. we would round up every illegal immigrant'

Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin has finally broken the silence in the immigration debate.

In a Spanish-television network interview aired Oct. 21 on Univision's "Aquí y Ahora" (Right Here and Now), reporter Jorge Ramos asked Palin if she thinks all illegal aliens should be deported.

"There is no way that in the U.S. we would round up every illegal immigrant," she replied. "There are about 12 million of the illegal immigrants – not only economically is that just an impossibility, but that's not a humane way anyway to deal with the issue that we face with illegal immigration."

Ramos asked Palin if she favored amnesty for 12 to 13 million illegals.

"No, I do not. I do not," she said. "Not total amnesty. You know, people have got to follow the rules. They've got to follow the bar, and we have got to make sure that there is equal opportunity and those who are here legally should be first in line for services being provided and those opportunities that this great country provides."

Palin told Ramos she supports a path to citizenship for illegal aliens and that she believes they should follow the rules in this country.

"I understand why people would want to be in America," she said. "To seek the safety and prosperity, the opportunities, the health that is here."

Palin explained her strategy to win the Hispanic vote.

"I will tell you, I wish that there were more hours in the day so that we can get out there and to more of the communities with such the strong Latino vote that is out there and really tell them that we desire to work for them," she said. "We are asking them to hire us and let us work for them."