PBS News Hour: on Immigration
James Webb:
Supports DREAM Act: legal status for undocumented children
Webb supports a possible path to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally after the border is secure. In the U.S. Senate, he voted against the 2007 McCain-Kennedy immigration reform bill.
A year later he supported a bill to expand and reinforce fencing along the United States' southwest border.
In 2010, Webb voted for the DREAM Act, which would have given legal status to undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.
Webb called President Obama's executive actions to waive deportation for some undocumented workers "legal" but also stated that he is "not a believer in executive orders."
Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
Jul 2, 2015
Chris Christie:
No pathway to citizenship, but college tuition for illegals
Christie said in May that he opposes a path to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally. He did not publicly support or oppose the Senate's bipartisan comprehensive reform bill in 2013. Christie would not answer questions on the topic of
immigration at an appearance last summer, nor in a 2013 appearance on ABC's This Week.Christie signed the New Jersey Dream Act, also known as the Tuition Equality Act, in December 2013, allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates
Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
Jun 30, 2015
Bobby Jindal:
More legal foreign workers; fewer who believe in Shariah law
On immigration, Jindal says he would secure the border, then allow a path to citizenship for undocumented residents, while expanding legal immigration.Jindal laid out his immigration position in a 2013 op-ed that called for the
U.S. to first secure the southern border and to then set up a system where those in the country illegally could first get a legal status and later apply for citizenship.
The Louisiana governor would also expand legal immigration, allowing more skilled foreign workers to enter the country and apply for citizenship. He would ban immigration from "radical Muslims", including those who believe in Sharia law.
In a London 2015 speech, Jindal sparked debate with his belief that some European nations provide "no-go" or safe zones for Muslims who want to live under Sharia law.
Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
Jun 24, 2015
Donald Trump:
Half of the undocumented residents in America are criminals
What does Donald Trump believe? Immigration: No path to citizenship for undocumented workers. Allow more European immigration and a legal status to those graduating from U.S. colleges.
In his January speech to the Iowa Freedom Summit, Trump called for securing the southern border and indicated that he believes half of the undocumented residents in America are criminals.
In 2013 at CPAC, the businessman said Republicans should block any path to citizenship or voting status for undocumented immigrants but should expand legal immigration from Europe.
In addition, Trump would give a legal status to foreign students who complete a degree at an American university.
Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
Jun 16, 2015
Lincoln Chafee:
In-state tuition for undocumented immigrants
Chafee would give undocumented immigrants access to in-state tuition, and offer a path to citizenship. Chafee says that federal, not state, officials should enforce immigration laws.After becoming governor, Chafee reversed a previous state order
directing R.I. state troopers to help enforce federal immigration laws. At the time Chafee said the state needed to be more tolerant. He has called for a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and pushed to give them access to in-state tuition.
Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
Jun 3, 2015
Mike Huckabee:
Give DREAMers legal status & let them apply for citizenship
Huckabee has opposed any comprehensive immigration plan that gives most undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship. His 2007 immigration plan bolstered border security and required anyone in the country illegally to register with authorities and leave
the country within 120 days. When it comes to immigrants who were brought here illegally as children, often called DREAMers, Huckabee believes they should have a legal status and be able to apply for citizenship.
Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
May 5, 2015
Bernie Sanders:
Offer path to citizenship; waive deportation for DREAMers
On immigration: Offer path to citizenship. Waive some deportations now.Sanders generally agrees with President Obama that most of the undocumented immigrants in the country now should be given a path to citizenship.
He voted for the senate immigration bill in 2013, which would have increased border security and issued a provisional immigrant status to millions of undocumented residents
once some significant security metrics had been met. In addition, Sanders has supported President Obama's use of executive orders to waive deportation for some
groups of immigrants, including those who were brought to the United States as children.
Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
Apr 30, 2015
Marco Rubio:
Joined "Gang of Eight" to push comprehensive reform
On immigration, Rubio would work toward reform, piece by piece. As a Senate candidate, the Florida Republican opposed a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who remain in the U.S.
Then in 2013, Rubio joined the "Gang of Eight," which drafted and pushed a comprehensive immigration bill through the Senate.
The legislation set up criteria and a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, and increased the size of the border patrol. After it froze in the House,
Rubio told reporters he had changed his approach and is now pushing for separate bills to first stop the flow of illegal immigration and then address those in the country now.
Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
Apr 13, 2015
Page last updated: Dec 07, 2018