In answer to a question from an audience member at a "tea party" rally in Ramona, Calif., Saturday, Republican U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter said he would support deporting the children of illegal immigrants, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Here is a link to the video on You Tube.

An audience member asked Hunter, "Would you support deportation of natural-born American citizens that are the children of illegal aliens?"

Hunter responded, "I would have to, yes."

The congressman continued, "It's a complex issue and ... you could look and say, 'You're a mean guy. That's a mean thing to do. That's not a humanitarian thing to do.' " Hunter added, "We simply cannot afford what we're doing right now. We just can't afford it. California's going under."

The congressman confirmed the comments to the North County Times and told the newspaper that he also supports House Resolution 1868, introduced last year but stalled in a House committee. The measure calls for the elimination of automatic citizenship of children born in the United States to illegal immigrants.

At the Saturday gathering, Hunter said, "It takes more than just walking across the border to become an American citizen - it's what's in our souls."

(Posted by Melanie Eversley)