Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson has made illegal immigration a major focus of his campaign, saying it’s unfair to those immigrants who have “played by the rules.” He’s also called for English to be made the country’s official language and is now running a new TV ad in Iowa called “No Amnesty.”

The issue of illegal immigration presents a quandary to both Republicans and Democrats—one that will surely have costs for each party’s nominee come next November. The challenge facing candidates is to strike a balance between enforcing strict border control and implementing a plan for those illegal immigrants already here. Strategists on both sides agree that a candidate who favors one extreme (too strict or not strict enough) will undoubtedly pay the price on election day.

For Republicans, some predict that a tough immigration policy will alienate a demographic they cannot afford to ignore: Hispanic voters. In the last two elections, their vote proved critical in a victory for Bush. Five of the swing states he carried in 2004 were heavy in Hispanic votes. If that electorate now turns to the Democrats in the upcoming election, it may affect the Republicans’ chance at victory.

At a press availability in New Orleans on Monday, I asked Mr. Thompson if he believed his stance on immigration would turn away Hispanic voters. He said it would not—stating that the immigrants he speaks to are in as much agreement as he is on the need to toughen immigration policies: