2018 UT Senate race: on Immigration


Jenny Wilson: It's not chain migration; it's family-based immigration

Jenny Wilson is throwing down the gauntlet to Mitt Romney on immigration. Wilson said in a news conference Romney is "out of touch" with Utah voters on the issue. She says Romney's policies are harsh, including ending so-called chain migration, a term critics use to describe family-based immigration. He's also supported a border wall backed by President Donald Trump.

Wilson says the one-time presidential candidate should "come out of hiding" and accept her invitation to debate on the issue.

Source: Salt Lake Tribune on 2018 Utah Senate race Aug 3, 2018

Craig Bowden: Streamline the process to make it easier to come legally˙

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens"?

A: Streamline the process to make it easier to come legally.˙

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Utah Senate candidate Feb 28, 2018

Mitt Romney: Welcome legal immigrants, instead of message of exclusion

Much of Romney's Senate announcement video focused on Utah values versus the Washington culture. "Utah has a lot to teach the politicians in Washington," he said. "... Utah welcomes legal immigrants from around the world. Washington sends immigrants a message of exclusion. And on Utah's Capitol Hill, people treat one another with respect."

Trump has called for building a wall on the country's border with Mexico and limiting legal migration.

Romney said he thought Trump had the right idea about the Dream Act, which lets children of immigrants born in the United States remain in the country. "We have to recognize that we as a nation will honor the commitment made by a prior president. So I agree with the president (Trump). Let's find a way to have these people be able to stay in our country."

Romney also said he supported Trump's so-called four pillars of immigration and favored stronger border security and stopping chain migration and the lottery program.

Source: The Metro on 2018 Utah Senate race Feb 16, 2018

Jenny Wilson: Against tearing up families

On immigration, she said it should not involve policies that "tear up families." Wilson said she does not support the idea of local law enforcement agencies enforcing federal immigration laws. She said she supports a path to citizenship for productive people who are in the U.S. illegally or who were brought to the country at a young age.
Source: The Park Record on 2018 Utah Senate race Sep 8, 2017

Mitt Romney: Poverty level of aspiring immigrant's nation is irrelevant

Romney criticized Trump in January following reports that the president used a derogatory term to refer to African countries during a White House meeting on immigration.

"The poverty of an aspiring immigrant's nation of origin is as irrelevant as their race," Romney tweeted on Jan. 15. "The sentiment attributed to POTUS is inconsistent w/ America's history and antithetical to American values."

Source: Bloomberg News on 2018 Utah Senate race Feb 16, 2012

  • The above quotations are from 2018 Utah Senate race: debates and news coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Immigration.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Orrin Hatch on Immigration.
Candidates and political leaders 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)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
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)
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)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: May 25, 2020