Tancredo, a congressman from Colorado, has made his name not only railing against the ease with which illegal immigrants can cross the border, but has urged sharp curbs on legal immigration, too.

As a result, the congressman has become a lightning rod on the divisive issue.

Now he's running for president, saying it's he who brought the issue to the forefront.

Tancredo has been active in politics for more than a quarter century. He got elected to Colorado's statehouse in 1976 and served there until becoming a regional official in Ronald Reagan's Education Department. He served there until Bill Clinton was elected.

In addition to being an outspoken critic of immigration policy, he's also fought for gun rights and is ardently anti-abortion.

Tancredo (pronounced Tan-CRAY-doe) supported the war in Iraq, but he parted with many Republicans in opposing President Bush's decision to boost troop levels after the 2006 election.

Tancredo is considered a long-shot, but conservatives who are eager to see action on illegal immigration are appreciative of his efforts on the issue.

Biography: Quad-City Times | Photo: AP

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