2014 NC Senate debate: on Immigration


Thom Tillis: Protect the borders; prevent illegal entry

Question topic: Government should enforce laws designed to protect the border and to prevent illegal entry of persons into the country.

Tillis: Strongly Agree

Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 North Carolina Senate race Sep 30, 2014

Thom Tillis: Amnesty shouldn't be on the table

Standing alongside Jeb Bush, Tillis gently put distance between himself and his guest of honor, on the issue of immigration: "You have to make it clear that amnesty shouldn't be on the table," Tillis said, referring to how to address those immigrants currently in the country illegally. "That doesn't negate any opportunity to provide some with legal status and other things, but you only do that after you seal the borders and you make the problem no longer grow."

Jeb Bush supports a pathway to citizenship for unauthorized immigrants and complained that not addressing the immigration system had "done us harm economically." He said, "If it was framed in that way, I don't think there's a big debate in the Republican Party about the need to do this."

But an easy resolution is not likely in his party. After a reporter noted that Bush's immigration stance was more "conciliatory," the former governor chuckled and the Republicans in the audience let out a brief, nervous laugh.

Source: N.Y. Times on 2014 North Carolina Senate debate Sep 24, 2014

Kay Hagan: Inaction is not an option; comprehensive reform is best

On immigration, Tillis knocked the "bipartisan failure" to secure the border, and he criticized the president for considering executive actions to slow deportations.

On that count, Hagan agreed, saying the president "should not take" action to ease deportations. But she also defended her vote in favor of the comprehensive immigration bill that passed the Senate last June, noting its variety of Republican co-sponsors and saying it would throw considerably more resources at border security. "Inaction is not an option," she said. "Speaker Tillis has no plan to solve our immigration system."

Source: CBS News on 2014 North Carolina Senate debate Sep 3, 2014

Thom Tillis: Bipartian failure to secure the border

On immigration, Tillis knocked the "bipartisan failure" to secure the border, and he criticized the president for considering executive actions to slow deportations.

On that count, Hagan agreed, saying the president "should not take" action to ease deportations. But she also defended her vote in favor of the comprehensive immigration bill that passed the Senate last June, noting its variety of Republican co-sponsors and saying it would throw considerably more resources at border security. "Inaction is not an option," she said. "Speaker Tillis has no plan to solve our immigration system."

Source: CBS News on 2014 North Carolina Senate debate Sep 3, 2014

Sean Haugh: Free movement across borders instead of curbs on immigration

In the first ever US Senate Libertarian candidates forum, Sean Haugh outlined several areas where his views contrasted with those of his opponent, Tim D'Annunzio, including:
Source: 2014 North Carolina Senate campaign website, SeanHaugh.com Jul 2, 2014

Sean Haugh: I believe in open borders

D'Annunzio said it is impractical to think all illegals can be deported, but "I don't believe in amnesty." He supports building a border fence and enforcing laws already on the books.

"I believe in open borders," Haugh said. "You should be able to have the right to travel. You should have the right to seek to improve your life." Some people still come here to seek the American Dream, he said. "I think there are very, very few reasons why we should restrict free travel across our border."

Source: Carolina Journal on 2014 North Carolina Senate debate Apr 8, 2014

  • The above quotations are from 2014 North Carolina Senate debates.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Immigration.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Kay Hagan on Immigration.
  • Click here for more quotes by Thom Tillis on Immigration.
Candidates and political leaders on Immigration:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 06, 2018