2014 SC Senate debate: on Immigration


Tim Scott: 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.

Scott: Agree

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

Thomas Ravenel: Robust worker visa program, plus anything else reasonable

He does not appear to be cowed by anti-immigration activists who have blasted the Senate immigration reform bill as "Grahamnesty" because of Lindsey Graham's support for it. "These immigrants reinvigorate the American spirit," Ravenel says of those in the country today. "That's why I love that show West Side Story, it's about the possibilities of now, that beautiful sense that something wonderful is around the corner. It's that spirit that sometimes we Americans take for granted."

Ravenel endorses a "robust worker visa program," but stops short of endorsing a path to citizenship for those in the United States already. "I am open to any ideas that sound reasonable. What's happening now is totally unreasonable and it's bad for the economy. Saying let's control the border first and then we'll deal with immigration is like saying we can't deal with your cancer until your symptoms go away."

Source: TheDailyBeast blog on 2014 South Carolina Senate race Jul 4, 2014

Lee Bright: 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.

Bright: Strongly Agree

Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 South Carolina Senate race Jul 2, 2014

Lee Bright: Secure the border first; but no amnesty

On immigration reform, Bright supports the idea that the border must be secured before further action can be taken. "There are many good ideas on how to proceed, but amnesty is not among them." Bright did not put forth any specific plan during this interview.
Source: Edgefield Advertiser on 2014 South Carolina Senate race Oct 29, 2013

Lindsey Graham: Secure border now in place with comprehensive immigration

Sen. LEE: The sponsors of the comprehensive immigration bill had the best of intentions. But the best intentions aren't enough when you're dealing with a 1,200-page bill. It will take many, many years, if not decades to fully implement all these border security measures.

GRAHAM: We practically militarized the border. I have been hearing for years, "let's secure our border, let's regain our sovereignty." We have secured our border in a way I could not have imagined five years ago. This whole border security amendment, I think, is the most aggressive attempt to control the southern border and regain our sovereignty. This bill reduces our deficit by $890 billion. It is good for our economy. This bill is good for our national security. No one can get a green card until border security measures are up and running, until E-Verify is up and running controlling a job in America.

Source: Fox News Sunday 2013, on 2014 South Carolina Senate race Jun 23, 2013

Lindsey Graham: New amnesty is tough and ends incoming illegals

Sen. LEE: They promised us that under this comprehensive immigration bill, illegal immigration would be a thing of the past. It won't: 10 years from now, we'll still have 6 million to 8 million illegal immigrants in this country.

GRAHAM: As to the 11 million [illegal immigrants here now], they will have an earned, hard pathway to citizenship. They have to get in the back of the line before they can become citizens. They can't cut in line. They have to pass two English proficiency exams. I reject the idea of becoming the Mideast or Europe where you have 11 million people with a legal status who can't be part of America. America is different than the Mideast and Europe. E pluribus unum, out of many, one. This is tough practical solution for our national security, for our economy and tough, practical solution to 11 million. And most importantly, if we do the bill, amnesty is the status quo. If we do this bill, there will be no third wave of illegal immigration.

Source: Fox News Sunday 2013, on 2014 South Carolina Senate race Jun 23, 2013

  • The above quotations are from 2014 South 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 Tim Scott on Immigration.
  • Click here for more quotes by Nancy Mace 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 07, 2018