Sarah Palin Talks Immigration Before Ellis Island Visit

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As she contemplates a possible run for president by touring the country, Sarah Palin spent the last two days in New York and New Jersey, acting almost as a high-profile tourist. NY1’s Michael Herzenberg caught up with Palin this morning for a brief interview.

Sarah Palin emerged from her hotel in Jersey City just after 8:00 a.m. Wednesday. The former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate signed autographs before resuming her bus tour of the country with a stop at Ellis Island.

"It's one of the symbols, of course, of our liberty, and it's a reminder too that immigrants built this country,” said Palin.

Twelve million immigrants entered the United States through Ellis Island from 1892 to 1924.

The possible 2012 presidential contender has said she supports the Arizona law that would allow police to ask people to show proof that they are in the country legally. She's against amnesty and the DREAM Act, which would give citizenship to some of the children of illegal immigrants who pursue higher education or the military.

“The DREAM Act, well see, the immigrants of the past, they had to literally and figuratively stand in line to become U.S. citizens,” said Palin. “I'd like to see that continue, and unfortunately the DREAM Act kind of usurps that, the system."

The system is on display at the Ellis Island Museum. Palin took a brief tour and then took a U.S. Parks staff boat to Liberty Island. She was there for more than an hour.

Of course, any trip to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty means interacting with people and plenty of kids.

"I didn’t know who it was at first,” said Brandon Robinson, a young tourist from West Texas. “Then when I realized it, I was like, whoa, you don't see anything like that in Texas."

Tuesday night, Palin grabbed a slice of pizza with Donald Trump, who recently declared he would not seek the Republican nomination to run for President.

"We talked a lot specifically about trade, though, about what it is that we can do with China and some of these other countries," said Palin.

Palin talked about the need to invest in infrastructure while she continues her tour designed to “highlight past victories in America so that we can see very clearly where we need to go.”

She said she has not decided whether she's running for president.