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Christie's Controversial Immigration Comments Land Him In Spotlight

TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- While Donald Trump says he wants a wall along the Mexican border to prevent illegal immigration, Chris Christie has another plan -- and some say it's even more extreme than Trump's.

During a campaign event in New Hampshire on Saturday, the New Jersey governor and Republican presidential hopeful proposed a FedEx-style tracking system for immigrants who overstay their visas.

"And then when your time is up, then we go get you and tap you on the shoulder and say: 'Excuse me. Thanks for coming. Time to go,'" Christie said.

"That's just weird," said Jordan Rubio, of Madison. "Why would you track someone? They're people. They're not packages."

Asked the same question on a Sunday morning talk show, Christie defended himself.

"We can do it, and we should bring in the folks from FedEx to use the technology to be able to do it," he said. "There's nothing wrong with that. And I don't mean people are packages, so let's not be ridiculous."

CBS2 requested comment from the Christie camp, but was instead directed to a video of a campaign speech. CBS2 wanted to know if the in-your-face Jersey guy is craving for some Trump attention.

"Trump has really trumped all the other truth speakers," said Peter Woolley, a political professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

"Christie is bringing his background as a prosecutor and an executive to the presidential race. So yes, he's trying to be the law-and-order guy."

Woolley said illegal immigration is a hot-button issue and Christie's controversial words could get party members listening, as he seeks the Republican presidential nomination.

Christie remains in the bottom half of most Republican presidential polls. A recent national poll from Quinnipiac University has him coming in ninth out of the 17 GOP candidates.

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