2016 Vice-Presidential Debate: on Immigration

Mike Pence: Focus on border security and removing criminal aliens

PENCE: That's nonsense. We have a deportation force. It's called Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. And the union for ICE endorsed Donald Trump to be the next president.

KAINE: So you like the 16 million deportations?

PENCE: That's nonsense. [Your plan is] for open borders & amnesty.

KAINE: Our plan is like Ronald Reagan's plan from 1986.

PENCE: They call it comprehensive immigration reform on Capitol Hill--but it's amnesty. Ronald Reagan said a nation without borders is not a nation. Donald Trump is committed to restoring the borders of this nation.

Q: So how would these millions of undocumented immigrants leave? Would they be forcibly removed?

PENCE: Donald Trump laid out a series of priorities that begins with border security. And after we secure the border, build a wall, we do internal enforcement. The focus has to be on criminal aliens.

Mike Pence: End sanctuary cities; those policies drive wages down

A: Trump has laid out a plan to end illegal immigration once and for all in this country. We've been talking it to death for 20 years. Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine want to continue the policies of open borders, amnesty, catch and release, sanctuary cities--all the things that are are driving wages down in this country, and also too often with criminal aliens in the country, it's bringing heartbreak. But Trump has a plan that he laid out in Arizona, that will deal systemically with illegal immigration, beginning with border security, internal enforcement. Trump has laid out a priority to remove criminal aliens, remove people that have overstayed their visas. Once we have accomplished all of that, which will strengthen our economy, strengthen the rule of law in the country and make our communities safer once the criminal aliens are out, then we'll deal with those that remain.

Tim Kaine: No "deportation force" going door-to-door to deport 16M

PENCE: That's nonsense. We have a deportation force. It's called Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. And their union endorsed Donald Trump.

Tim Kaine: Barring Syrian refugees is antithetical to democracy

PENCE: That's absolutely false.

KAINE: And with respect to refugees, we want to keep people out if they're dangerous. Donald Trump said keep them out if they're Muslim. Mike Pence put a program in place to keep them out if they're from Syria. We should focus upon danger, not upon discrimination.

PENCE: As governor, I have no higher priority than the safety and security of the people of my state. So you bet I suspended that program. And I stand by that decision.

KAINE: Sure. Hillary and I will do immigration enforcement and we'll vet refugees based on whether they're dangerous or not. We won't do it based on discriminating against you from the country you come from or the religion that you practice. That is completely antithetical to the Jeffersonian values of [democracy].

Tim Kaine: Barring Syrian refugees is antithetical to democracy

PENCE: That's absolutely false.

KAINE: And with respect to refugees, we want to keep people out if they're dangerous. Donald Trump said keep them out if they're Muslim. Mike Pence put a program in place to keep them out if they're from Syria. We should focus upon danger, not upon discrimination.

PENCE: As governor, I have no higher priority than the safety and security of the people of my state. So you bet I suspended that program. And I stand by that decision.

KAINE: Sure. Hillary and I will do immigration enforcement and we'll vet refugees based on whether they're dangerous or not. We won't do it based on discriminating against you from the country you come from or the religion that you practice. That is completely antithetical to the Jeffersonian values of [democracy].