2020 IL Senate race: on Immigration

Mark Curran: For border wall; but path to citizenship for DREAMers

I support a border wall as well as increased funding for both Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol Agents. I support maintaining our sovereignty and stopping the flow of illegal immigration. I support legislation regarding both DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, and Dreamers (Dream Act) Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors. These people did not choose to come here voluntarily. Their families brought them here. We would be less of a Nation if we deported them to a place they no longer know. I also support a path to citizenship for Dreamers. Source: Chicago Sun Times on 2020 Illinois Senate race Jan 22, 2020

Mark Curran: Supports Trump on funding for border/ICE agents, border wall

Curran said, "With regards to those here illegally--it's a mess, and has been for some time." He referred to measures that have not been able to get from the U.S. Congress to the President's desk, saying the issue is at a stalemate. "There's not enough funding for border agents, ICE agents, or the wall--and I support the President on those issues," he said. "I guarantee I know more about immigration than all of the other candidates."

[Curran's opponent] Dr. Tom Tarter responded by saying he's writing a white paper on the issue regarding the "DREAMers" who came to America with their parents illegally, saying he would not allow those DREAMers that had committed felonies to become citizens, but he would specifically allow those that have served in the military to become citizens

Source: Illinois Review on 2020 Illinois Senate debate Sep 22, 2019

Mark Curran: Backed bipartisan legislation with path for citizenship

Curran has been somewhat of an outlier on immigration issues in contrast to President Donald Trump and other Republicans. Curran has repeatedly called for comprehensive immigration reform and backed the 2013 bipartisan legislation that contained a path to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally and overwhelmingly passed the Senate but was never called in the Republican-led House. Source: Chicago Tribune on 2020 Illinois Senate race Aug 7, 2019

Mark Curran: Deporting working people with families is absolutely wrong

I believe in the rule of law. We're talking about people that have been here for 20 years and they have five children that are U.S. citizens. And they came here under this message: "Don't worry about it. You can get into this country. You can work, and nobody's ever going to ask about it." Now we're going to deport them? To me that's absolutely wrong. Source: PBS Frontline on 2020 Illinois Senate race Oct 18, 2011

Mark Curran: When rights of one are in jeopardy, rights of all are

Q: Do you worry if you deny due process to any individual, with or without papers, that makes it easier for due process to be denied to an American citizen?

CURRAN: Absolutely. When the rights of one are in jeopardy, then the rights of all are. I think that that's clearly a concern, because if our law tends to go in that direction and say that something is no longer constitutional, what's to prevent it from being broadened or expanded to take that right away from you or me as well?

Source: PBS Frontline on 2020 Illinois Senate race Oct 18, 2011

The above quotations are from 2020 Illinois Senatorial 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 Illinois on Immigration. Click here for more quotes by Dick Durbin 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)
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Page last updated: Dec 07, 2020