CNN "State of the Union" interviews during 2017: on Immigration

John McCain: Municipalities cannot exempt themselves from immigration law

MCCAIN: When laws are passed, federal laws that apply to the United States of America, municipalities cannot exempt themselves. If we had a system of government that we pass certain laws and towns and cities sprinkled across the country decided, well, we're not going to obey that law, then obviously that would be a breakdown of government. And so I would say that we ought to look at ways that would help convince these cities to observe federal law. And that may mean through how we use federal funds.

GRAHAM: Well, sanctuary cities is a symptom of a greater problem. The best thing we could do to honor your son is to fix a broken immigration system. For 10 years, along with Senator McCain, and I've been trying as hard as I know how to get it fixed rather than yelling about it.

Lindsey Graham: Sanctuary cities are symptom of a broken system

MCCAIN: When federal laws are passed, municipalities cannot exempt themselves.

GRAHAM: Sanctuary cities is a symptom of a greater problem. The best thing we could do to honor your son is to fix a broken immigration system. Along with Senator McCain, I've been trying to get it fixed rather than yelling about it. In our bill, you get increased penalties if you come back into the country once you're deported. If you're a felon, you can never come back into the country. There's a lady holed up in a church right now with two kids. Do you want her deported? I don't. What I want to do is keep the people who killed your son from ever coming back to our country, identify them and kick their ass out, and give that lady a chance to stay here by learning our language, paying taxes, and getting to the back of the line. That's what I'm for.

John McCain: Exclude our interpreters in Iraq from Muslim travel ban

McCain said he was worried about "our interpreters, my friends, who literally put their lives on the line" in Iraq.

Graham said the initial travel ban was offensive to the 3,500 Muslims who serve in the US military.

Lindsey Graham: If we declare war on Islamic faith, we're all going to lose

Graham said the initial travel ban was offensive to the 3,500 Muslims who serve in the US military. "Here's what I hope the President understands: When you do something like this, if it's perceived as declaring war on the faith, we're all going to lose," Graham said.