2016 PA Senate race: on Immigration

Katie McGinty: Support DREAM Act plus earned path to citizenship

McGinty: Yes

Toomey: Opposed Obama's Executive Order giving legal status.

Q: On Immigration: Should America's 11 million undocumented residents have an earned path to citizenship?

McGinty: Yes

Toomey: No

Katie McGinty: Communicate with federal officials instead of sanctuary city

McGinty called for increased communications between local police and federal law enforcement agencies. Pressed for an opinion on Kenney's policy, McGinty said she was not "rejecting" it but wanted the city to share information with federal officials on pending releases of inmates. "I have asked for reconsideration of this aspect of the policy," McGinty told reporters. "I think we are all safer and better off when law enforcement is in constant contact about individuals that they have concerns about."

Pat Toomey: Withhold community funding from sanctuary cities like Philly

As one of his first acts in office in January, Kenney reinstituted the city policy that bars police and prison officials from telling U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents about the pending releases from detention of undocumented prisoners, unless a prisoner was previously convicted of a violent felony and ICE has a warrant.

Toomey's bill would block sanctuary cities from receiving federal Community Development Block Grants, budgeted for $3 billion in 2016. Toomey argued that it was justifiable to withhold federal funding because sanctuary cities impose additional costs: "If you're going to impose those costs, then it's very reasonable for the federal government to choose not to subsidize that," Toomey said.

John Fetterman: Wife's family came to Americas as illegal immigrants

Like so many before her, she came to this country with her family from Brazil in search of a better life -- fleeing a violent and unstable situation.

Her family overstayed their visa, and for years, she lived in the shadows undocumented while her mother cleaned houses for twelve hours a day. And while Gisele would eventually obtain her green card, it shouldn't have been that hard.

I would not have the beautiful family I have today if Gisele's family was not brave enough to take a risk and come to America. Chances are, you wouldn't have the family you have today either if it weren't for immigration because, at one point in time, most of us came from a boat somewhere.

John Fetterman: If illegals lead an exemplary life, create a path

• Creating a pathway to citizenship for everyone that has been in this country that is leading productive lives. If you are leading an exemplary life, there needs to be a path for you. This process can be supported with the safety of background checks.
• The DREAM Act: Why do we stop people that want to go to college and contribute to society? Everyone in this country deserves the opportunity to receive higher education and pursue their dreams.
• Remedying our country's inhumane deportation practices. I can't imagine how taxing it must be to live in fear every day that your family will be torn apart. We need to zero in on the bad by further scrutinizing who exactly we are targeting when it comes to criminals that do not belong in this country.