John Delaney on Immigration Democratic candidate for President; U.S. Rep from MD-6

Treat those who cross our borders with measure of dignity

Ending DACA program was cruel, heartless and mean-spirited

• Immigration: Comprehensive immigration reform. Path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Increase border security.
• Delaney supports comprehensive immigration reform.
• As a congressman, he cosponsored the DREAM Act in 2017, which would have provided a path to citizenship for so-called "Dreamers," young undocumented immigrants brought to the country illegally as children.
• He called President Donald Trump's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, "cruel, heartless and mean-spirited," and said deporting "Dreamers" would be both morally wrong and damaging to the economy.
• Delaney believes immigration reform should be modeled on the bipartisan 2013 Senate immigration bill, which would have given undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship and increased border security funding.

Enact the DREAM Act's conditional path to citizenship

Reform our immigration policy to ensure that the same spirit that brought people of all backgrounds to help develop this nation over the past 250 years continues to thrive: We must enact measures like the DREAM Act, which would have provided a conditional path to citizenship for qualified young people who complete a college degree or two years of military service.

Support DREAM Act and more H1B1 visas

1. Secure our border: We cannot allow people to cross our borders illegally and we should continue funding our border patrol efforts.
2. Crack down on employers who knowingly hire undocumented immigrants.
3. I support the DREAM Act to encourage high school students that have grown up here to go to college. But I also support additional H1B1 Employment Visas to allow the foreign students to stay here.
4. First we need to get undocumented people to register with the government to start the process of citizenship.
5. Then they need to undergo a criminal background check. If you are a convicted felon you should not be allowed citizenship.
6. Learning English should be a part of the pathway to citizenship.
7. And they should pay back taxes. Many undocumented workers already pay taxes, but it is only fair to those that play by the rules that folks who don't should pay their back taxes.

Opposes exiting US to apply for citizenship.

Project Vote Smart infers candidate issue stances on key topics by summarizing public speeches and public statements. Congressional candidates are given the opportunity to respond in detail; about 11% did so in the 2012 races.

Project Vote Smart summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: 'Immigration: Do you support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?'

Voted to legalize DREAMer immigrants via military service.

Congressional Summary: The House voted on an amendment by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) to H.R. 5293, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2017. The amendment would prohibit funds from being used to extend the expiration of, or reissue a new expiration date to, the Military Accessions Vital to National Interest (MAVNI) program.

Recommendation by Heritage Foundation to vote YES:(6/16/2016): The MAVNI program is a pilot program authorizing "military services to recruit certain legal immigrants whose skills are considered to be vital to the national interest." However, a DoD memo has made it clear that DACA/DAPA recipients are eligible under this program, essentially opening up a pathway to amnesty for illegal aliens who enlist. By ensuring that this guidance ends, DOD will no longer be able to enlist illegal immigrants through MAVNI.

Recommendation by the ACLU to vote NO: (6/28/2011): The DREAM Act promotes fundamental fairness for young people by allowing access to affordable post-secondary education and military service opportunities, regardless of immigration status, and would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, have lived here for at least five years and have graduated from high school. The DREAM Act could result in billions of dollars in additional tax revenue from tapping the potential of DREAM-eligible students and future service personnel. Since September 11, 2001, more than 69,000 immigrants have earned citizenship while serving, and more than 125 who entered military service after that date have made the ultimate sacrifice in war by giving their lives for this nation.

Legislative outcome: Failed House 210 to 211 (no Senate vote)