Survey of 2018 House campaign websites: on Immigration


Kim Schrier: Bipartisan immigration reform, oppose border wall

Source: 2018 WA-8 House campaign website DrKimSchrier.com May 15, 2020

Ben McAdams: Bipartisan reform, secure borders; resolve DACA

The federal immigration system is broken. Ben thinks it's time for bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform. He wants secured borders, higher legal immigration, undocumented immigrants to come out of the shadows and more recognition of the important role immigrants play in the U.S. economy. Nearly 10,000 young adults in Utah have enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. Ben thinks it's past time for Congress to resolve the uncertainty they face.
Source: 2018 UT-4 House campaign website BenMcAdams.com May 14, 2020

John Rose: Illegal immigrants not "undocumented," deport them

Securing our nation begins by protecting our borders and the sanctity of U.S. citizenship. The immigration system just does not work. Those who made it across the border illegally are protected in sanctuary cities and unfairly given advantages over those trying to enter the country legally. Immigrants who are in the United States illegally are not "undocumented"; they are illegal and should face the consequences of breaking the law--deportation.
Source: 2018 TN-6 House campaign website JohnRose.com May 14, 2020

Tim Burchett: Has cracked down on illegal immigration throughout career

As mayor, Tim has welcomed new immigrants to our country at local naturalization services. But Tim is also a firm believer in the rule of law and has worked to crack down on illegal immigration throughout his career. In the state legislature, Tim sponsored legislation to impose penalties on people who transport illegal immigrants in Tennessee. Tim believes it's high time we enforce the laws on our books and secure our southern border. He will work with President Trump to build the wall.
Source: 2018 TN-2 House campaign website BurchettForCongress.com May 14, 2020

William Timmons: Support border wall; stop sanctuary cities & chain migration

We must fix our broken immigration system once and for all. I support President Trump's plan to build a wall, secure our borders, and stop sanctuary cities. I also believe we must end chain migration and go back to immigration based primarily on merit.
Source: 2018 SC-4 House campaign website VoteTimmons.com May 13, 2020

Anthony Gonzalez: Invest in border security; amend asylum laws

Over 90% of the heroin destroying our community comes directly through our Southern border, and we need to do everything in our power to stop it. Robust investments in border security are essential. Additionally, our asylum laws act as a magnet to those who wish to subvert the traditional immigration process. Thus, as we increase our investments in security, we must also amend our asylum laws to encourage those who wish to enter our country to do so through legal channels.
Source: 2018 OH-16 House campaign website AnthonyGonzalez.com May 12, 2020

Anthony Gonzalez: DACA: No amnesty or special pathway; find legal solution

For children who came to this country through no fault of their own, I believe we need to find a permanent legal solution that allows them to stay in the country while they work through the legal immigration system. I am opposed to amnesty or a special pathway, but do believe that they should be able to stay in the country, provided they are obeying our laws, while they work through the legal process.
Source: 2018 OH-16 House campaign website AnthonyGonzalez.com May 12, 2020

Kelly Armstrong: Secure our borders to end drugs & human trafficking

We have to once and for all secure our borders. This isn't about stopping immigration; this is about ending the flow of drugs and human trafficking along our southern borders. Kelly has supported President Trump's efforts to build a wall along the border with Mexico and has co-sponsored the Fix the Immigration Loopholes Act and the BOUND Act to help stop the flow of illegal immigrants, drugs and counterfeit merchandise across our borders.
Source: 2018 ND-0 House campaign website ArmstrongND.com May 12, 2020

Xochitl Torres Small: For secure borders; against impractical wall

We need secure borders to keep out traffickers and violent criminals. That means giving Customs and Border Protection the technology and personnel they need to keep us safe and maintain effective and efficient ports of entry. We don't solve any problem by building another wall--that's just fiscally irresponsible and impractical. I will work with anyone who's willing to focus on enforcing laws against criminals and keeping us all safe.
Source: 2018 NM-2 House campaign website XochForCongress.com May 11, 2020

Xochitl Torres Small: We need a clear and moral immigration system

I know that a fundamental part of our border security is a clear and moral immigration system. I'll fight for a path to citizenship for DREAMers and others without criminal records who are living, working, and paying taxes across our great country. And, by expanding work visas and skills-based immigration, we can support American agriculture, technology, and other sectors that benefit from hiring the best, brightest, and hardest working people from around the world.
Source: 2018 NM-2 House campaign website XochForCongress.com May 11, 2020

Lauren Underwood: Provide DACA recipients a pathway to citizenship

Immigrants have been vital to the cultural fabric and I strongly condemn the hurtful and divisive rhetoric that has become commonplace under the new administration. We must take immediate action to provide all DACA recipients a pathway to citizenship through a clean Dream Act. We must take immediate action to pass comprehensive immigration reform, including re-evaluating which countries receive preferential immigration authority.
Source: 2018 IL-14 House campaign website UnderwoodForCongress.com May 6, 2020

Sean Casten: Protect Dreamers, border wall is an expensive waste

We must pass legislation to formally approve DACA and protect immigrants who entered the country as children from removal by future presidents (e.g., through the DREAM Act).

We must secure our borders--but we also must recognize that the bulk of undocumented immigrants to the U.S. are visa overstays, not illegal border crossings. Border walls are an expensive waste of resources paid by U.S. taxpayers, not Mexico as Donald Trump promised.

We must close private immigration detention centers. We detain too many immigrants in facilities that dehumanize them and harken back to dark days of Japanese internment camps. We are better than that as a country. We must limit the ability of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to interject themselves into local law enforcement. Local police forces almost unanimously oppose the federal overreach that ICE has applied to compel disclosure of immigration status.

Source: 2018 IL-6 House campaign website CastenForCongress.com May 5, 2020

Jason Crow: Bring millions undocumented immigrants out of the shadows

Our immigrant neighbors deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and our laws should reflect that. I believe we should provide the Dreamers with a path towards citizenship and reform the immigration system to bring the millions of other undocumented immigrants out of the shadows and provide certainty to them and their families. We must insure that family-based immigration stands on equal footing with business- and skills-based immigration.
Source: 2018 CO-6 House campaign website JasonCrowForCongress.com May 4, 2020

Michael Cloud: Fully fund the border wall and secure our borders

Our immigration system is in desperate need of reform, beginning with securing the border and upholding the rule of law. Stand with me in telling Congress that 30 years of empty promises is shameful and that it's time for the games to end so that our borders can be made secure. Congress must fully fund the border wall and ensure that our Border Patrol Agents have the personnel, training, and equipment they need to secure our borders.

Our immigration system is in desperate need of reform, beginning with securing the border and upholding the rule of law. Stand with me in telling Congress that 30 years of empty promises is shameful and that it's time for the games to end so that our borders can be made secure. Congress must fully fund the border wall and ensure that our Border Patrol Agents have the personnel, training, and equipment they need to secure our borders.

Source: 2018 TX-27 House campaign website CloudForCongress.com May 1, 2020

Veronica Escobar: Will push for comprehensive immigration reform

The demonization of migrants and talk of building taller walls does nothing to get to the root of a broken immigration system. I will push for comprehensive immigration reform--applying sensible public policy that acknowledges the realities of undocumented immigration and the injustices of our outdated laws, protects our DREAMERs, and recognizes the benefits of an educated workforce. Thoughtful immigration reform not only makes our country safer, but makes us more competitive as well.
Source: 2018 TX-16 House campaign website VeronicaEscobar.com May 1, 2020

John Joyce: Support Trump's agenda to create a secure border

The American people have lost their trust in the career politicians of Washington D.C. to finally secure our border. I believe it is the first job of the federal government to keep us safe, and securing our borders must be the first priority of any immigration plan. Therefore, I support President Trump's agenda to create a secure border and immigration system that attracts the best and brightest from other countries while always putting the safety of America first.
Source: 2018 PA-13 House campaign website JohnJoyceForCongress.com Apr 30, 2020

Lizzie Pannill Fletcher: Comprehensive immigration reform with pathway to citizenship

We need comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship. It should be thoughtful, practical, and fair. It should include strengthening our border security, cracking down on employers who break the law, and ensuring law enforcement, including immigration and customs enforcement, can do its job to keep our communities safe. It should not include building a wall between us and our state's top trading partner.
Source: 2018 TX-7 House campaign website LizzieFletcher.com Apr 30, 2020

Max Rose: Opposes travel ban, protect refugees

Max supports Congress passing comprehensive immigration reform. He believes that it's critical, for public safety, economic, and humanitarian reasons, that cities like New York be able to protect law-abiding members of our society--DREAMers and others. Max opposes the travel ban which targeted Muslims and left translators and intelligence sources in danger. Protecting refugees through Temporary Protected Status is also vital, as these are people who have fled war and natural disasters.
Source: 2018 NY-11 House campaign website MaxRose.house.gov Apr 29, 2020

Dean Phillips: No to border wall; yes to effective border security

We need to stop criminals, gangs and terrorists from crossing our borders, but 21st-century threats require 21st-century technology--not an ineffective border wall that will add over $100 billion to our deficit by 2028. Dean supports giving law enforcement the technologies, tools and resources they need to combat illegal border crossings, such as surveillance cameras, drones and underground sensors, so we can prevent anyone who poses a threat to our country from crossing at all.
Source: 2018 MN-3 House campaign website PhillipsForCongress.org Apr 28, 2020

Dean Phillips: Create fair pathways to earned, legal citizenship

Dean will advocate for bipartisan immigration reform that secures our borders and provides an earned pathway to citizenship for otherwise law-abiding, undocumented immigrants who work hard and pay taxes. Comprehensive reform should include streamlining the naturalization system so those who work to enter the U.S. legally don't have to wait decades for citizenship.
Source: 2018 MN-3 House campaign website PhillipsForCongress.org Apr 28, 2020

Angie Craig: Reform ICE; smart border security; path to citizenship

I do not believe the answer to fixing our immigration system is abolishing immigration and customs enforcement (ICE). But they must reform the way they do their jobs to ensure we have a humane legal immigration system. I support bipartisan immigration reform that invests in smart border security, provides a path to citizenship for DREAMERS and law-abiding immigrants and keeps families together.
Source: 2018 MN-2 House campaign website AngieCraig.com Apr 27, 2020

Haley Stevens: Never forget that America is a country of immigrants

We must never forget that America is a country of immigrants. We need to curb the overreaching power of ICE. Congress needs to pass legislation on comprehensive immigration that treats people with dignity. We need to pass legislation that supports deferred action for childhood arrivals known as DACA and grants citizenship.
Source: 2018 MI11 House campaign website HaleyStevensForCongress.com Apr 26, 2020

TJ Cox: Path to citizenship, protect DACA recipients

He will fight to ensure hardworking families don't have to live in fear of being torn apart and are valued for their contributions to our economy and communities. For our local businesses and region to thrive, we need an immigration system that actually works. TJ will work tirelessly for common sense immigration reforms that include a path to citizenship and protections for DACA recipients. TJ doesn't see the diversity of our nation as a problem - but as our promise.
Source: 2018 CA-21 House campaign website TJCoxForCongress.com Apr 23, 2020

Chuy Garcia: ICE should treat immigrants humanely or be cancelled

ICE is the tip of the spear for the Trump administration's efforts to use terror to intimidate immigrants into leaving the U.S and punish immigrants who are legal residents. There are better ways to manage our borders. We have to create a better system that effectively deals with customs issues and humanely promotes immigration. I will press the ICE issue so that ICE will either be a constructive part of humane immigration mission or we will move on from ICE.
Source: 2018 IL-4 House campaign website JesusChuyGarcia.com Oct 29, 2018

David Trone: Advocate for immigrants; supports pathway to citizenship

Immigrants are an important part of American society and should have a path to citizenship. President Trump's family separations, mass deportations, travel bans, and rescinding of DACA and TPS protections are antithetical to American values. We all benefit from the rich cultural and economic diversity immigrants bring to our community. Research shows that immigrants improve the quality of life for all Americans.
Source: 2018 MD-6 House campaign website DavidTronecom Oct 29, 2018

Deb Haaland: Immigration reform: stop deportation, protect DREAMers

This country was built by immigrants. As a Native American woman, my family has experienced the violence of government-enforced family separation. I will always fight to keep families together. ICE is an out of control institution that is terrorizing American families. I want to stop deportations, protect DREAMers, and I will fight for comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship for all 11 million undocumented immigrants in America.
Source: 2018 NM-1st House campaign website DebForCongress.com Oct 9, 2018

Dusty Johnson: Enforce border security law; plus merit-based immigration

We are a nation of laws. Any discussion of immigration should start with border security. Illegal immigration imposes serious costs on our nation, and we need to use a strong combination of walls, professional law-enforcement, and technology (like E-Verify) to combat this problem. When done properly, legal immigration can be a tremendous benefit to our country. I like much of what the President has proposed with regard to chain migration and moving toward a merit-based immigration system.
Source: 2018 SD-0 House campaign website DustyJohnson.com Oct 9, 2018

Kevin Hern: Enforce existing immigration laws & secure the borders

Kevin Hern strongly opposes the Obama Administration's policy of taking unconstitutional, unilateral actions on immigration. He believes we must enforce our existing laws, secure our borders, and ensure the American people that we are keeping their families safe from dangerous criminals. We are a nation of immigrants, but we are also a nation of laws. Kevin believes we must follow these laws in order to protect our national security.
Source: 2018 OK-1st House campaign website HernForCongress.com Oct 9, 2018

Lori Trahan: Work to fix broken immigration system & protect rights

Lori is committed to protecting the rights of immigrants. She will work to fix our broken immigration system and ensure that everyone, regardless of your origin, has a fair shot at citizenship and the American Dream. Lori, whose ancestors came to this country from Portugal and Brazil, understands that we are a nation of immigrants. Lori will seek to reverse the current political rhetoric towards of tone of acceptance and one that treats those who come to our country with value and dignity.
Source: 2018 Massachusetts 3rd House campaign website LoriTrahan.com Oct 9, 2018

Troy Balderson: Build wall to keep out illegals: deport those here

Troy Balderson will work with President Trump to build the wall and protect Ohio's working class from illegal immigration. He opposes sanctuary cities, driver's licenses and in-state tuition for illegals, and will fight alongside President Trump to deport those here illegally.
Source: 2018 OH-12th House campaign website BaldersonForCongress.com Oct 9, 2018

Ayanna Pressley: America needs to be immigrant friendly

Ayanna opposes any funding for a wall along our border with Mexico. She will demand a clean DREAM Act and will fight to reinstate Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). We are a country founded by and made great by immigrants. Rather than demonizing immigrants, we should be working together on fair and comprehensive immigration reform that will enable law-abiding immigrants to seek a path to citizenship.
Source: 2018 MA 7th House campaign website AyannaPressley.com Jul 4, 2018

Debbie Lesko: The border needs to be secure like Trump says

We must secure our border, period. Some sections need a physical barrier like the wall, and other parts require technology and more manpower. I am committed to working with President Trump to making this a reality.
Source: 2018 AZ House campaign website DebbieLeskoForCongress.com Jul 4, 2018

  • The above quotations are from Survey of 2018 House campaign websites.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Immigration.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Tom Price on Immigration.
  • Click here for more quotes by Ryan Zinke on Immigration.
2020 Presidential contenders on Immigration:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN)
Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Mar 17, 2022