Meet the Press — NBC — December 16

Romney: Those people who have come here illegally, and are in this country – the twelve million or so – that are here illegally, should be able to sign up for permanent residency, or citizenship, but they should not be given a special pathway, a special guarantee that all of them get to stay here, for the rest of their lives, merely by virtue of coming here illegally. And that, I think, is the great flaw in the final bill that came forward in the Senate.

Tim Russert: They shouldn’t have to go home?

Romney: Whether they have to go home – they should go home eventually – there is a set – in my view they should have a set period – during which period they sign up for application for permanent residency, or for uhhh – citizenship, but there’s a set period whereupon they return home, but if they have been approved for citizenship or for permanent residency, why that would be another matter, but for the great majority, they will be going home…

More and VIDEO HERE