In his July 25 morning broadcast, KHOW-AM radio host Peter Boyles falsely asserted that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) is saying “nothing” about illegal immigration. In fact, Clinton has made several public statements on the subject.

Boyles made the comment while discussing a July 24 speech -- reported by Reuters -- that Clinton delivered in Denver to the national convention of the Democratic Leadership Council, at which she introduced the organization's “American Dream Initiative” of economic proposals. After reading from the Reuters report, Boyles concluded, “Great ideas, wrong person.” Boyles stated:

BOYLES: Once again, we come down to this: What are the affecting things in the lives of middle-class America? What is the affecting thing in the lives of working-class Americans? Well, the number one variable as always, once again, illegal immigration. What is Mrs. Clinton saying at all about any of that? Well, nothing. And she is no different than, of course, other American politicians regardless of the R's behind their name or the D's behind their name.

In a March 8 statement on comprehensive immigration reform, Clinton said that "[o]ur current system allows unscrupulous employers to skirt our laws and exploit undocumented workers in the name of cheap labor" and that illegal immigration causes “a huge drain on our state social services”:

Our current system allows unscrupulous employers to skirt our laws and exploit undocumented workers in the name of cheap labor. As a consequence of our broken immigration system, there is a huge drain on our state social services, including financial strains on our local and state law enforcement. The situation leaves us with a lot of tough choices. We have a system that is broken and we have to find practical but fair solutions to fix it.

In the same statement, Clinton outlined the following principles “that reform has to be based on”:

• Strengthening our borders to make us safer from the threat of terrorism and using new technology to help our Border Patrol agents be more effective;

• Greater cross-border co-operation with our neighbors, especially Mexico, to solve the problem of illegal immigration;

• New enforcement laws that are both strict and fair;

• Harsh penalties for those who exploit undocumented workers;

• A fairer process for people seeking to come to America, especially for those whose families have been torn apart;

• A path to earned citizenship for those who are here, working hard, paying taxes, respecting the law, and willing to meet a high bar for becoming a citizen.

Further, as the New York Daily News reported on April 23, in what it characterized as “her hardest line yet against illegal immigrants,” Clinton called for “U.S. borders secured with a wall or fence, possibly surveillance drones and infrared cameras.” The Daily News further reported that Clinton “envisions a two-stage plan in which border security is beefed up, followed by legalization efforts in a year or two.” The Daily News quoted Clinton saying, “A physical structure is obviously important. ... A wall in certain areas would be appropriate” and reported that she “endors[ed] a high-tech 'smart fence' that could spot people approaching from 200 or 300 yards.”

On May 25, Clinton voted in favor of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 (S. 2611), which includes such provisions as increased border security, a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the United States, a guest-worker program, and tighter controls and stricter penalties to reduce the employment of undocumented workers.

From the July 25 broadcast of KHOW-AM's The Peter Boyles Show:

BOYLES: Mrs. Clinton, as being described by Reuters this morning, a possible White House contender in double-o-eight, said last night the Bush Administration had hurt working Americans. The Democrats must offer new ideas to strengthen the middle class. Americans are earning less while the cost of middle-class life is soaring. A lot of Americans can't work any harder, borrow any more, or save any less. And unveiled the Democratic Party's “American Dream Initiative,” a package to make college, home ownership more affordable, help small business, improve retirement savings and expand health insurance coverage. Said last night in her speech, “George Bush and the Republican Party have made a mess out of the nation's finances.” And using her husband's famous '92 campaign slogan, “It's the economy, stupid,” Mrs. Clinton said, “It's the American dream, stupid.” Hoping to unite Democrats and help elect Democrats in November. Great ideas, wrong person. Great ideas. Once again, we come down to this: What are the affecting things in the lives of middle-class America? What is the affecting thing in the lives of working-class Americans? Well, the number one variable as always, once again, illegal immigration. What is Mrs. Clinton saying at all about any of that? Well, nothing. And she is no different than, of course, other American politicians regardless of the R's behind their name or the D's behind their name.