Walker ad hits foe on immigration

MADISON, Wis. — Republican Gov. Scott Walker said in a new campaign ad Tuesday that Democratic challenger Tony Evers wants “special treatment for illegals,” bringing immigration to the forefront of Wisconsin’s race for governor two weeks before the election.

Walker’s ad comes a day before he was to campaign in Wisconsin with President Donald Trump, who has been escalating his immigration rhetoric at similar rallies in other states, accusing Democrats of “encouraging millions of illegal aliens to break our laws, violate our borders and overwhelm our nation.”

Polls show the race between Walker and Evers to be a toss-up.

The latest Walker ad is based on comments Evers made during a debate on Friday. Evers voiced support for allowing in-state tuition for students who were children when their parents brought them into the United States without legal permission. Evers also said he supported allowing workers who are here illegally to obtain state driver’s licenses to get to and from work.

“Do I think that we should have permits, driver permits for undocumented folks that are working in Wisconsin? The answer is yes,” Evers said in the debate. “Undocumented folks are working hard at jobs all across the state of Wisconsin, paying taxes, paying into Social Security. They should have the opportunity … to have permits.”

Walker opposes allowing people here illegally to get driver’s licenses, saying federal law prohibits the state taking action.

Walker’s ad ends with the narrator saying, “Tony Evers: special treatment for illegals, higher taxes for you.”

Evers’ campaign spokesman Sam Lau accused Walker of fear-mongering.

“This is a sad, desperate attempt by a career politician to mimic Donald Trump to save his political career,” Lau said.