Deval Patrick on Immigration Democratic Governor (MA) and presidential contender

Allowed MA to shelter Central American refugee children

And I remember that President Obama asked a number of governors if we would shelter the children for a period of time while they were being processed as refugees. And I agreed to do so. We had the facilities. We had done it before. And I explained my reasoning to the people of Massachusetts as being based in both patriotism and faith, patriotism, because this country has given shelter to desperate children for a very long time.

One time we didn't, we turned a shipload of Jewish children back to the Holocaust. It's been a blight on our national reputation ever since, as I fear the separation of children at the southern border will be.

In-state tuition ok for illegals; focus on employers

PATRICK: [Yes, but] this is one issue where I think both sides have a point. The folks on the other side of the question from where I am say we should only reward people who play by the rules and they’re right. I understand that immigration is a serious problem. But people are not coming here for in-state tuition, they’re coming here for jobs. We need to come down hard on employers.

Drivers licenses for illegals, for security and safety

PATRICK: I support that because of the security issues. I want to know the names and addresses and faces of the people who are here. The people who are driving on the roads, I want the insurance issues dealt with, I want to know the people on the road know the rules of the road. Let’s be clear, people are not coming to Massachusetts to get a drivers license, they’re coming to get jobs. The first thing we have to do is secure our borders.

Supports in-state tuition rates for illegal immigrants

“She’s totally out of touch,” Reilly said of Healey. “These are kids that just want a chance.“

Healey fired back, saying: ”Tom Reilly is the one who is out of touch with working families of Massachusetts if he thinks they want their tax dollars to pay for illegal immigrants to go to college.“

Deval Patrick also supports the bill. ”Denying kids who qualify in every other way to be an in-state student is unfair,“ Patrick said. ”We shouldn’t be trying to erect barriers.“ Nine other states have laws that allow illegal immigrants to attend state colleges at resident rates.