OC Line: The OC GOP’s Mexican immigrant problem

It wasn’t too long ago when Republican presidential candidates made illegal immigration a campaign issue. They warned that they would make life in this country for those here illegally so hard, that they would self-deport. And that there would never be an amnesty program.

It was an issue that more than a few political pundits say has backfired big time.

The Orange County GOP has used that kind of mantra for decades to win races among conservatives. But now, along with the national Republican Party, some county GOP leaders are softening their positions.

Gustavo Arellano is Editor of the OC Weekly, and he joins KCRW’s Steve Chiotakis for this week’s Orange County Line.