Candidate Positions

Original source: http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/2/20/114718/542

Q: Border security and illegal immigration are a threat to our security and our future:

A: We have three choices on illegal immigration.

1. Pretend that there is no problem.
2. Find 11-12 million people who live in the country and deport them.
3. Solve the problems that arise mostly with our southern border.

Of course we know there is a problem. We can address the problem at our southern border by assigning more personnel and equipping them with better technology to police the border.

As for the people who are living here now who came illegally, this is an issue that is used to divide Americans. But what we need to do is to do what is morally right and what is practical to move ahead. The practical thing we can do is to provide a path to citizenship to those who are here illegally but are otherwise law-abiding. First, they will have to come forward and admit that they came here illegally and pay a fine. They will have to learn to speak English. Then they can move through the process for citizenship.

Original source: http://www.kron.com/Global/story.asp?S=6299447&nav=menu130_2_8

Jim Gilmore is, as are most Americans, a descendent of immigrants who came to this country legally to seek the American dream. And, he believes that dream should remain attainable for those who obey the law. However, there should be no amnesty for those who are in our country illegally. As a forceful advocate for homeland security, Jim Gilmore knows that we must secure America’s borders to protect our country. We will not be able to deal successfully with those who are in our country illegally until we have secured our borders and stopped the entrance of additional illegals. We must re-examine our existing immigration laws and develop a better program for temporary workers as well as requiring employers to verify workers are here legally.

Original source: http://www.dmiblog.net/archives/2007/01/what_are_the_candidates_saying_1.html

Of all of the candidates that have entered the race so far, Hillary Clinton is probably one of the most outspoken on the issue of immigration

One of her most quoted remarks about immigrants was made in 2004 when she criticized the Bush administration for not doing enough on border control and said, “I am, you know, adamantly against illegal immigrants.” This, of course, was widely quoted and spread across the blogosphere like wildfire. When the immigration debate heated up last spring, advocates criticized Clinton for not speaking out against the draconian House bill 4437 soon enough and for not taking enough of a leadership role in the debate around immigration reform. Ultimately, however, she was an outspoken critic of the bill, which she said would “literally criminalize . . . . probably even Jesus himself,” when referring to the provision that would have made illegal entry into the U.S. a felony. Clinton said it would be “an unworkable scheme to try to deport 11 million people, which you have to have a police state to try to do.”

Although most remember the Senate bill for its provisions creating a “path to citizenship”, Ms. Clinton never shied away from her focus on border control. “A country that cannot control its borders is failing at one of its fundamental obligations,” she said of America’s “broken system.”

In addition to supporting the Senate bill, Clinton has called for a guest worker program and endorsed and voted for “the Fence Bill.” In fact, she supported enacting the border enforcement piece of any legislation before putting into law a path to legalization for undocumented immigrants despite the Democratic leadership’s insistence that the two measures be enacted simultaneously. In December she voted for the “Secure Fence Act of 2006″, which included only the enforcement piece. She has also suggested that she would support a national identification card to crack down on illegal immigration.

Original source: http://www.dmiblog.net/archives/2007/03/what_are_the_candidates_saying_7.html

Republican Presidential candidate Duncan Hunter hails from the California side of the U.S - Mexico border. He has been the California representative of the 52nd district since 1993. Born and raised very close to the border, Hunter has made border control his main legislative priority. He’s been pushing for a “fortified border” for his entire career. In fact, there is an entire website dedicated to his efforts to secure the border. Besides advocating for increased military spending, border enforcement issues are the only other issue under which he has made a name for himself.

Since his immigration platform is almost entirely based on increasing enforcement measures, his support last spring for House bill 4437 should come as no surprise. He even worked to add an amendment to the already enforcement-focused legislation for more border fencing. In Duncan Hunter’s ideal world, we would build a fence along the entire border.

So, beyond fencing, where does Duncan Hunter stand on immigration? In this interview he calls for border enforcement and then internal enforcement, focusing on the deportation of immigrants convicted of crimes. He also mentions expanding programs for employer verification of employee authorization to work and a national ID card.

Original source: http://kucinich.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=1562

Congressman Kucinich is deeply concerned about the plight of immigrants in this country, whether immigrants are joining close family members, fleeing their home countries as refugees, or coming for legal employment. He advocates for a fair and compassionate immigration policy that promotes human rights and family values. He is committed to working in a bipartisan fashion to ensure that our nation always extends a helping hand to its immigrants. Additionally, Congressman Kucinich believes that America must have in place a balanced system that carefully screens those who wish to come into the United States and admits only those who do not pose a security risk and who can contribute to our society.

Refugees

Congressman Kucinich is a strong advocate on behalf of refugees, who flee their homelands because they fear persecution on account of their race, religion, membership in a social group, political opinion or national origin. He has sponsored several bills to make it easier for refugees, who make up 6% of all immigrants, to come to the United States. Congressman Kucinich believes that if refugees can demonstrate that they have a well-founded fear of persecution, then the United States has a moral responsibility to assist them.

Defending the Rights of Legal Immigrants

Congressman Kucinich was an original cosponsor of legislation that would prohibit the use of “secret evidence” in trials conducted by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. He believes that the cornerstone of our judicial system is that evidence cannot be used against someone unless he or she has the chance to confront it. Congressman Kucinich strives to ensure the rights of all citizens regardless of race, religion, creed, ethnic orientation, sexual orientation, disabilities or age.

Original source: http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/3824

I agree with the President’s stated goal of achieving comprehensive immigration reform this year. With over 12 million undocumented workers in our country, the American people expect Congress and this administration to find a workable solution to this longstanding problem - one that protects American jobs and security while providing a pathway to earned citizenship for undocumented workers, many of whom play an important role in our economy. Unfortunately, last year, efforts to pass an immigration reform bill were blocked by the Republican-controlled House. In this Congress, we have an opportunity and an obligation to tackle this issue head-on on a bi-partisan basis. But without Presidential leadership, comprehensive reform will not be possible. Hopefully, this time the President will have the courage to stand up to members of his own party who fought against reform last year.

Original source: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,151631,00.html

RICHARDSON: I think the president proposed a step in the right direction. What he has said is there should be a guest-worker program for three years. You re-apply. You go back.

I would go one step further. I think what is also needed is some clear path toward some type of legal status, legalization.

We have an immigration system that’s broken. We have 10 million illegal immigrants in America, 25 percent in the last two years.

So if you have an earned legalization program that has benchmarks of law-abidingness, that has benchmarks of working hard, and you combine it with tough law enforcement, more border guards, a crackdown on illegal smuggling, better detection of those that overstay their visas, stolen/lost passports — what is needed is a comprehensive immigration reform, not piecemeal, punitive measures.

Original source: http://obama.senate.gov/speech/060403-floor_statement_of_senator_barack_obama_on_immigration_reform/index.html

Floor Statement of Senator Barack Obama on Immigration Reform
Monday, April 3, 2006

Mr. President, I come to the floor today to enter the debate on comprehensive immigration reform. It is a debate that will touch on the basic questions of morality, the law, and what it means to be an American.

I know that this debate evokes strong passions on all sides. The recent peaceful but passionate protests that we saw all across the country–500,000 in Los Angeles and 100,000 in my hometown of Chicago–are a testament to this fact, as are the concerns of millions of Americans about the security of our borders.

But I believe we can work together to pass immigration reform in a way that unites the people in this country, not in a way that divides us by playing on our worst instincts and fears.

Like millions of Americans, the immigrant story is also my story. My father came here from Kenya, and I represent a State where vibrant immigrant communities ranging from Mexican to Polish to Irish enrich our cities and neighborhoods. So I understand the allure of freedom and opportunity that fuels the dream of a life in the United States. But I also understand the need to fix a broken system.

When Congress last addressed this issue comprehensively in 1986, there were approximately 4 million illegal immigrants living in the United States. That number had grown substantially when Congress again addressed the issue in 1996. Today, it is estimated that there are more than 11 million undocumented aliens living in our country.