CNN "State of the Union" interviews during 2019: on Immigration

Beto O`Rourke: Grant refuge to those severely impacted by climate change

Bill de Blasio: Undocumented folks core to our economy

Julian Castro: Supports L.A. & Chicago in non-cooperation with ICE

CASTRO: Yes, I would, because I believe that local law enforcement should do its job, and federal law enforcement has its own job to do. So, I'm glad to see that Los Angeles and Chicago are doing that.

Julian Castro: Decriminalizing border crossings won't apply to smuggling

Rep. Beto O'ROURKE: I don't know if it should be repealed, but I think that we should acknowledge that most of those who are arriving at our border right now pose no threat or harm to this country. But if somebody is attempting to smuggle human beings or illegal drugs into this country, I want to make sure that we have the legal mechanism necessary to detain them.

CASTRO: We already have another legal mechanism to do that. I'm talking about repealing Section 1325 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which simply refers to people who cross the border. Between 1929 and the early 2000s, we actually treated it as a civil violation. This is not something radical. If somebody comes here, and they are doing human trafficking or drug trafficking, we have laws that we can charge them with. I'm not suggesting that we let those people off the hook.

Julian Castro: Decriminalizing illegal crossings is way we used to do this

Castro: We already have another legal mechanism to do that. I'm talking about repealing Section 1325 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which simply refers to people who cross the border. Between 1929 and the early 2000s, we actually treated it as a civil violation. This is not something radical. If somebody comes here, and they are doing human trafficking or drug trafficking, we have laws that we can charge them with.

I'm disappointed in Congressman O'Rourke's stance, because the only way that we're going to effectively make sure that we're not separating little children from their families is to repeal Section 1325. I would absolutely go back to the way that we used to treat this. That would be more effective, smarter and more humane.

Mike Pence: Close asylum loopholes: 90% don't show up in court

Pence: We want to end the days where people believe they can come into the country, make a claim of asylum from oppression or deprivation or violence in Central America or elsewhere, and then be released into the country on their own recognizance, only to vanish into the nation with 90% of the people never show up for their hearing in the months ahead. We have got to close the loopholes.

Q: I don't think that that number is accurate about 90 percent not showing up. I think a majority do show up.

Pence: People with a hearing that is scheduled six months, a year, 18 months later, the overwhelming majority, plus-90 percent, don't show up.

Beto O`Rourke: Do not repeal law: keep illegal border crossings a crime

O'ROURKE: I don't know if it should be repealed, but I think that we should acknowledge that most of those who are arriving at our border right now pose no threat or harm to this country. In the vast majority of cases, there's no need to incarcerate or to detain migrant families, and especially children. But if somebody is attempting to smuggle human beings [or] illegal drugs into this country, I want to make sure that we have the legal mechanism necessary to detain them.

Q: But you disagree with Julian Castro; you don't think that it should be repealed?

O'ROURKE: Yes, I have answered the question. I do not think that it should be repealed.

Beto O`Rourke: Most immigrants pose no danger, but keep illegal entry law

O'Rourke: I don't know if it should be repealed, but I think that we should acknowledge that most of those who are arriving at our border are at their most desperate and vulnerable moment. They pose no threat or harm to this country. In the vast majority of cases, there's no need to incarcerate migrant families, and especially children. But if somebody is attempting to smuggle human beings [or] illegal drugs into this country, I want to make sure that we have the legal mechanism necessary to hold them accountable and to detain them.

Q: You don't think that it should be repealed?

O'Rourke: I do not think that it should be repealed.

Pete Buttigieg: Should help stabilize Central America nations, not cut aid

Pete Buttigieg: Policies make things worse instead of solving problems

Bernie Sanders: Comprehensive immigration reform; stop attacking allies

Bernie Sanders: We need humane immigration policy, not demonization

It is a serious problem, but it is not the kind of crisis that requires demonization of desperate people who in some cases have walked 1,000 miles with their children. So, it is an issue, but you don't demonize desperate people. We deal with it in a rational and humane way.

Kirsten Gillibrand: Pathway to citizenship gets immigrants connected