Michele Bachmann Takes Toughest GOP Stand Against Illegal Aliens

Signing an immigration-control pledge, GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann looks to score border-control points at CNN's "Western States" debate in Las Vegas Tuesday night.

Scrambling to stay in the race, Bachmann set herself apart from the rest of the field Monday by meeting with lawmakers next door in Arizona. Under siege from illegal aliens, the border state is fighting to keep its tough immigration laws in the face of opposition by the Obama administration.

Speaking in Iowa, which has also experienced an influx of migrant workers, the Minnesota congresswoman recited statistics asserting that the social costs of illegal immigration outweigh the supposed financial benefits of cheap labor.

Dan Stein of the Federation for American Immigration Reform applauded Bachmann's position Tuesday.

But Texas Gov. Rick Perry's campaign fired back at Bachmann, telling the Des Moines Register: What Congresswoman Bachmann should build a fence around is her facts."