Create a legal environment for all immigrants to transact business and participate in many other activities that require government
documents, such as the ability to buy and sell property, enter into contracts, use the court system for dispute resolution, etc. <.ul>
Source: 2014 Georgia Senate campaign website, AmandaSwafford.net
Sep 30, 2014
Brian Kemp:
Crack down on illegal immigration
Secretary of State Brian Kemp opened his campaign for governor Saturday by borrowing themes from Donald Trump, pledging a "Georgia first" strategy that would crack down on illegal immigration as he took aim at establishment forces and the media.
The Athens Republican took broadsides against "fake news" and the well-connected political status quo.
And he talked in tough terms about Georgia's efforts to block those in the country illegally from voting or receiving state benefits. "This is Georgia," he said. "We will be putting Georgia first."
Kemp said he did not plan to step down from his role
as Georgia's top elections officer through the campaign. That would give him a statewide platform through November 2018, but also would deny him about three months of fundraising during next year's legislative session.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 2018 Georgia governor race
Apr 1, 2017
Brian Kemp:
Georgia interests over immigrants
Defund sanctuary cities and campuses. Stop taxpayer funded subsidies for illegal immigrants. Protect our Georgia values.
Put the needs of hardworking Georgians ahead of special interests
Source: 2018 Georgia Gubernatorial website KempForGovernor.com
Sep 1, 2017
Brian Kemp:
Check immigration status after minor offenses
Legislative Summary: When any person charged with a felony or with driving under the influence is confined in a county or municipal jail, a reasonable effort shall be made to determine the nationality of the person so confined.
Registration of Immigration Assistance Act: To establish and enforce standards of ethics in the profession of immigration assistance by private individuals who are not licensed attorneys.
OnTheIssues Interpretation:
Immigrants are allowed to get legal help, but those helping must register, and may offer only limited help. They must declare in writing that they are not an attorney, and cannot give legal advice. The purpose is to make the process harder for illegal
immigrants to get legal help, and hence to increase deportations.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 39-16-0 on March 27 vote #1037; Sen. Kemp voted YES; passed House 119-49-8 on March 28 vote #1076; signed by Gov. Perdue April 17.
Source: Georgia legislative voting records: SB 529
Mar 27, 2006
Brian Kemp:
End DACA; round up criminal illegals
Immigration: Support DACA, allowing "Dreamers" who arrived illegally as children, then grew up in the US, to achieve legal status if meet certain conditions?Abrams: Yes. Advocates a clean DREAM Act legislation with path to citizenship.
Kemp: No. End DACA, which "provides amnesty for illegal immigrants--many of whom are adults, not children, & includes those with criminal records."
Immigration: Support path to citizenship for America's 11 million illegal immigrants?
Abrams: No stand found.
Kemp: No.
In ad, said he wants to round up "criminal illegals" in his pickup & take them home himself. Will crack down on illegal immigration.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Georgia Governor race
Nov 1, 2018
Casey Cagle:
Check immigration status after minor offenses
Legislative Summary: When any person charged with a felony or with driving under the influence is confined in a county or municipal jail, a reasonable effort shall be made to determine the nationality of the person so confined.
Registration of Immigration Assistance Act: To establish and enforce standards of ethics in the profession of immigration assistance by private individuals who are not licensed attorneys.
OnTheIssues Interpretation:
Immigrants are allowed to get legal help, but those helping must register, and may offer only limited help. They must declare in writing that they are not an attorney, and cannot give legal advice. The purpose is to make the process harder for illegal
immigrants to get legal help, and hence to increase deportations.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 39-16-0 on March 27 vote #1037; Sen. Cagle voted YES; passed House 119-49-8 on March 28 vote #1076; signed by Gov. Perdue April 17.
Source: Georgia legislative voting records: SB 529
Mar 27, 2006
Casey Cagle:
Double headline - Already Done
[Casey Cagle talking to camera]: Political talkers may mean well but leaders get things done. [Caption: Casey Cagle Conservative Republican leader]I'll always stand for our families and our conservative values...[Caption: Pro-life. Pro-second
Amendment]
...but results require decisive action. That's why I led the fight for one of the toughest crackdowns on illegal immigration... [Photo: police with Casey Cagle]
.And outlawed and defunded Sanctuary cities. [Headline: AJC 11-7-17: "Casey
Cagle personally accuses Decatur of defying State immigration law"]
And I will hold them accountable, to help law enforcement protect our loved ones from criminal illegal aliens. [photo: police with Casey Cagle; Headline:
WABE 10-11-17: "Lieutenant Governor threatens Decatur's funding over perceived Sanctuary status."]
[Female narrator]: Conservative Casey Cagle leads. [Video with Casey Cagle with wife and three young children]
Source: OnTheIssues AdWatch on 2018 Georgia Gubernatorial race
Mar 22, 2018
David Perdue:
Protect the borders; prevent illegal entry
Question topic: Government should enforce laws designed to protect the border and to prevent illegal entry of persons into the country.
Perdue: Strongly Agree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Georgia Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
David Perdue:
Citizenship for DACA tied to cutting immigration
Q: Your opinion on immigration?Perdue: Supports Trump proposal for DACA path to citizenship tied to cutbacks in legal Immigration and funding for wall. DACA brings "chain migration." Supported limiting visas to "create a merit-based
immigration system."
Ossoff: "DREAMers are Americans," "here to stay." Supports "path to legal status for undocumented immigrants." "Strong border security doesn't require" sacrificing "our moral principles."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
Doug Collins:
Co-sponsored Build the Wall, Enforce the Law Act
Q: Expand border walls? Reduce immigration?Doug Collins: Yes. Co-sponsored Build the Wall, Enforce the Law Act and bill to eliminate citizenship if parents aren't citizens.
Kelly Loeffler:
Yes. Co-sponsored Asylum Abuse Reduction Act. Undocumented should not get free health care.
Raphael Warnock: No. Immigration is "desperately broken." Cites Jesus as an "undocumented immigrant."
Source: CampusElect on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
Drew Ferguson:
We CANNOT allow this flow of unvetted refugees to continue
Just ANOTHER Refugee? President Obama continues to go out of his way to get more and more Syrian refugees into the United States. Tens of thousands of refugees that we know NOTHING about. We could easily be letting in dangerous individuals who pose
an immediate threat to our national security.Well, enough is enough. We CANNOT allow this flow of unvetted refugees to continue.
Their entry into our country not only threatens our national security, but it also stands to pose a direct threat to the safety of each and every American. Our families and communities stand to be at risk.
We must secure our borders and increase our
national security NOW, not after something bad happens. The LAST thing we need in our country is additional unvetted refugees from terror hot spots around the world.
Source: 2016 Georgia House campaign website FergusonForGeorgia.com
Nov 8, 2016
Ed Tarver:
Immigrants seek the opportunities of the American Dream
Q: Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?A: People who seek the promises and opportunities of the American Dream, who enter the
United States legally or pursuant to special conditions, and who do not pose a national security or public safety risk should be allowed to immigrate.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate
Nov 3, 2020
Greg Orman:
Tough, practical, fair policy: no amnesty but no deportation
Orman said, "I believe our policy on immigration needs to be tough, practical and fair," describing the outlines of a plan passed with bipartisan support in the Senate last summer. To deport 11.5 million people would not be economically advisable, he
said, citing industries in Kansas that would be "decimated" by such a policy. Instead, Orman said he would have immigrants in the U.S. illegally register with the government, pay a fine or perform community service, hold down a job, pay taxes and obey
laws in order to stay.Roberts repeated over and over again the importance of border security. He also said, "you're not going to get any immigration policy as long as Harry Reid is the majority leader of the Senate.
He uses immigration as a political tool." Mr. Obama, he warned, planned to "declare amnesty for illegal aliens" by executive order and said the president would be backed by Orman.
"I do not support amnesty," Orman responded.
Source: CBS News on 2014 Georgia Senate debate
Oct 15, 2014
Herschel Walker:
For path to citizenship in 2015, now only "a strong border"
On immigration, he's spoken frequently on Fox News about the need for "a strong border." But when asked this week about a 2015 interview when he also supported a path to citizenship for immigrants in
the country illegally, his team pivoted back to the "strong border" concept without addressing the larger policy question.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 2022 Georgia Senate race
Oct 20, 2021
Herschel Walker:
Secure our southern border, fix the immigration problem
The border crisis isn't just a border state problem, it is a Georgia problem that is bringing drugs, crime, and human trafficking to our state. While Herschel is fully supportive of those who follow the legal immigration process, he believes that our
leaders have a Constitutional obligation to secure America's borders and keep Americans safe. Herschel will work to secure our southern border and fix the immigration problem, which Washington politicians have failed to address for decades.
Source: 2022 Georgia Senate campaign website TeamHerschel.com
Apr 20, 2022
Hunter Hill:
No sanctuary cities in Georgia
First and foremost, my priority as your Governor is keeping Georgians safe from harm. I stand with President Trump. I am opposed to sanctuary cities that harbor illegal immigrants from being deported.
We will hold those who break our laws accountable. As Governor, if a city in Georgia decides to harbor illegal immigrants, they won't receive a nickel of state funding.
Source: 2018 Georgia Gubernatorial website VoteHunterHill.com
Sep 1, 2017
Jason Carter:
Voted to keep public benefits for undocumented immigrants
- Carter voted NO on March 5, 2012 on SB 458: Repeals Certain Public Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants (Bill Passed Senate, 34-19)
- Carter voted NO on April 14, 2011 on HB 87: Immigration Enforcement Act (Concurrence
Vote Passed Senate, 37-19)
- Carter voted NO on March 14, 2011 on SB 40: Immigration Status Verification of Private Business Workers (Bill Passed Senate, 34-21)
Source: Vote-Smart voting records: 2014 Georgia governor race
Mar 3, 2014
Jim Barksdale:
Pass comprehensive reform & bring 11M out of shadows
We are a nation of immigrants, and Jim strongly believes the time has come for our elected leaders in Washington to listen to the people and pass comprehensive immigration reform. Bringing the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants out of the
shadows and into the full light of our American freedom will strengthen our economy and reduce our deficit. It would also end the wage exploitation undocumented workers face that is wrong and undermines wages for all Americans.
Jim believes we need a comprehensive solution that protects our borders, provides a pathway to legal status and, in some cases, citizenship for undocumented workers that work hard, pay taxes and want to raise their families in our democracy.
After nearly a decade of trying, comprehensive immigration reform passed the U.S. Senate in 2013. Unfortunately, the Speaker of the House did not have the courage to allow a vote on the measure.
Source: 2016 Georgia Senate campaign website JimBarksdale.com
Aug 8, 2016
Jon Ossoff:
Unconstitutional to slander or ban entire religious groups
Jon's mother is an immigrant who became a small business owner, an American citizen, and a champion for women's rights. America should welcome those strivers who, like our own forebears, seek the opportunity to work hard, play by the rules, and build
better lives in America.Jon believes it is a violation of core American principles to slander entire religious groups and that it's unconstitutional to ban anyone from entering our country on religious grounds.
Source: 2017 Georgia House campaign website, ElectJon.com
Apr 21, 2017
Jon Ossoff:
Strengthen borders, path for undocumented immigrants
Strong border security doesn't require us to sacrifice our moral principles, our commitment to human rights, or our American identity as a haven for people fleeing persecution and striving for opportunity. I'll support an immigration policy that
strengthens our borders, puts American workers first, respects human rights, and creates a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants who are already here and otherwise follow the law, especially those brought here as children.
Source: 2020 Georgia Senate campaign website ElectJon.com
Jul 2, 2020
Jon Ossoff:
DREAMers are Americans and here to stay
Q: Your opinion on immigration?Ossoff: "DREAMers are Americans," "here to stay." Supports "path to legal status for undocumented immigrants." "Strong border security doesn't require" sacrificing "our moral principles."
Perdue: Supports Trump proposal for DACA path to citizenship tied to cutbacks in legal Immigration and funding for wall. DACA brings "chain migration." Supported limiting visas to "create a merit-based immigration system."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
Karen Handel:
Immigration bill is 1,000 pages of industry rewards
Handel criticized the Senate bill for rewarding some seemingly random industries in the bill: "The Senate immigration bill is over 1,000 pages long; filled with things like: rewards for au pair agencies, Alaskan seafood processors and Vegas casinos;
and does not even secure the border."Those provisions were part of deals fought for by industry lobbyists and included to garner support for the bill. Whether that classifies them as "rewards" is a matter of opinion, but we rated her statement True.
Source: PolitiFact.com on 2014 Georgia Senate race
Jan 2, 2014
Karen Handel:
Ok with 6-country immigration ban, but no religious test
Handel aligned herself with the president when asked about the biggest items on his agenda, but she also indicated she wasn't afraid of disagreeing with him. She backed the Trump's proposal to temporarily block visitors from six primarily
Muslim Middle East nations while homeland security officials revamp their vetting process for foreign visitors, but she said she would not support any sort of "religious litmus test."
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 2017 Georgia House debate
Jun 6, 2017
Kelly Loeffler:
Supports building border wall
In her introductory news conference, Loeffler pledged allegiance to Trump and decried Democrats' efforts to impeach the president as a "circus." She said she would defend the Second Amendment, support Trump's border wall and conservative judges and
will be a fierce opponent of abortion. "Contrary to what you might see in the media, not every strong American woman is a liberal," she said. "Many of us are conservative and proud of it."
Source: Atlanta Journal-Const.on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate race
Dec 6, 2019
Kelly Loeffler:
Co-sponsored Asylum Abuse Reduction Act
Q: Expand border walls? Reduce immigration?Kelly Loeffler: Yes. Co-sponsored Asylum Abuse Reduction Act. Undocumented should not get free health care.
Raphael Warnock: No. Immigration is "desperately broken." Cites Jesus as an "undocumented immigrant."
Source: CampusElect on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
Latham Saddler:
For a physical and technological wall on southern border
Border security is national security. Because of his experience as a special operations leader, Latham knows that a secure perimeter and good intelligence are critical for mission success. He will apply these basic
principles to our southern border by advocating for a physical and technological wall and advancing our border patrol's intelligence capabilities.
Source: 2022 Georgia Senate campaign website LathamSaddler.com
Dec 27, 2021
Michelle Nunn:
Un-American travel ban hurts refugees & US standing in world
Hours after President Trump signed his executive order on travel and immigration, Nunn said the order would jeopardize the organization's efforts to save and protect refugees from nations like Syria. Nunn argued the order would hurt the standing of the
U.S. in the international community. "We could foreseeably compromise relationships vital to our national interests," she said. In an email to CARE supporters and donors, Nunn went farther, calling the order "this harmful and un-American ban."
Source: WABE 90.1 NPR on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate race
Aug 25, 2014
Paul Broun:
Protect the borders; prevent illegal entry
Question topic: Government should enforce laws designed to protect the border and to prevent illegal entry of persons into the country.
Broun: Strongly Agree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Georgia Senate race
Jul 2, 2014
Rand Knight:
Pathway to citizenship but with official English language
Knight supports the following principles regarding Immigration:- Establish English as the official national language.
- Support harsher financial punishments for those who knowingly employ illegal immigrants.
-
Illegal immigrants should be given a pathway to citizenship.
- Support merit-based visas over family-based visas.
Source: Georgia Congressional Election 2008 Political Courage Test
Jul 2, 2008
Raphael Warnock:
Jesus was an "undocumented immigrant"
Q: Expand border walls? Reduce immigration?Raphael Warnock: No. Immigration
is "desperately broken." Cites Jesus as an "undocumented immigrant."
Kelly Loeffler: Yes. Co-sponsored Asylum Abuse Reduction Act. Undocumented should not get free health care.
Source: CampusElect on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
Rick Allen:
Protect the border and to prevent illegal entry
Q: Government should enforce laws designed to protect the border and to prevent illegal entry of persons into the country?
Allen: Strongly Agree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Georgia Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
Rick Allen:
Our borders remain vulnerable; block any amnesty
Immigration is another example of Washington's failure to solve the major problems facing our nation. For the last few decades, politicians have debated the problem of illegal immigrants, yet our borders remain vulnerable.
We must immediately secure the border, enforce the laws we currently have on the books, and block any solution that includes amnesty for illegals.
Source: 2014 Georgia House campaign website, RickWAllen.com
Nov 4, 2014
Shane Hazel:
Shut off the welfare magnet; have troops patrol border
Hazel believes that ending welfare will stop illegal immigrants from coming to the U.S., and ending foreign wars would free up U.S. troops to patrol our Southern border."Shut off the welfare magnet. Period.
No illegals get welfare from the United States. That will start pushing them back right there," he said, eliciting applause. "We can bring our troops home and secure the southern border really quick."
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitutionon 2020 Georgia Senate race
Apr 4, 2018
Sonny Perdue:
Check immigration status after minor offenses
Legislative Summary: When any person charged with a felony or with driving under the influence is confined in a county or municipal jail, a reasonable effort shall be made to determine the nationality of the person so confined.
Registration of Immigration Assistance Act: To establish and enforce standards of ethics in the profession of immigration assistance by private individuals who are not licensed attorneys.
OnTheIssues Interpretation:
Immigrants are allowed to get legal help, but those helping must register, and may offer only limited help. They must declare in writing that they are not an attorney, and cannot give legal advice. The purpose is to make the process harder for illegal
immigrants to get legal help, and hence to increase deportations.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 39-16-0 on March 27 vote #1037; passed House 119-49-8 on March 28 vote #1076; signed by Gov. Perdue April 17.
Source: Georgia legislative voting records: SB 529
Apr 17, 2006
Stacey Abrams:
Colleges need not act as immigration enforcement officers
HB 37: Would prohibit any private postsecondary institution eligible for tuition equalization grants from implementing a sanctuary policy. Sanctuary policies restrict employees' cooperation with federal and state officials or law enforcement officers
reporting immigration status information. Any private postsecondary institution that refuses to cooperate may lose state funding or state-administered federal funding, which includes scholarship funds received by students of the institution.
MY VOTE: NO. Institutions of higher learning should not be compelled to act as immigration enforcement officers for any branch of government. More concerning, if the institution violates the policy, all students would be punished.
For example, if a school violates the policy, any HOPE Grant recipient could lose his or her funding, regardless of immigration status.
Source: 2018 campaign website on Georgia voting record HB 37
Mar 30, 2017
Stacey Abrams:
Advocates a clean DREAM Act
Immigration: Support DACA, allowing "Dreamers" who arrived illegally as children, then grew up in the US, to achieve legal status if meet certain conditions?
Abrams: Yes. Advocates a clean DREAM Act legislation with path to citizenship.
Kemp: No. End DACA, which "provides amnesty for illegal immigrants--many of whom are adults, not children, & includes those with criminal records."
Immigration: Support path to citizenship for America's 11 million illegal immigrants?
Abrams: No stand found.
Kemp: No. In ad, said he wants to round up "criminal illegals" in his pickup & take them home himself. Will crack down on illegal immigration.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Georgia Governor race
Nov 1, 2018
Ted Terry:
Refugees exemplify the best of what America offers
Clarkston had become an international community and just like us, white and black Americans, would never get a chance to meet someone from Burma or the Congo or Syria. Those same people would never get to meet people from other parts of the world.
The reality is over 40 years every refugee resettlement in Clarkston and America you have these amazing first, second, third generation refugees who really exemplify the best of what America has to offer.
Source: Under the Radar Mag on 2020 Georgia Senate race
Dec 19, 2019
Teresa Tomlinson:
End family separation & citizenship for DREAMers
- I will work to immediately end any policy that separates families or places refugees/migrants in cage-filled detention centers.
-
I believe DREAMers should be made citizens without delay.
- I believe there should be a path to citizenship for those people who work hard, pay taxes, and want a better life.
-
I believe we need to invest resources in effective, secure, smart borders, not a costly, ineffective and symbolic "wall."
- I believe we need to invest in a speedy and just asylum review process,
and in a humane family placement program for refugees.
- I believe in the revamping of our visa process and in finding a fair and just way to resolve those who have overstayed their visas.
Source: 2020 Georgia Senate campaign website, TeresaTomlinson.com
Jan 12, 2020
Valencia Stovall:
Construct wall on Mexican border; then rolling legalization
Q: Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?A: Yes.
Q: Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
A: No. There could be a rolling legalization, tiered legalization, and some type of amnesty program with limited family sponsorships. Some consideration should be made for those immigrants who have been in the US for years.
Source: 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate PVS Political Courage Test
Oct 10, 2020
Vernon Jones:
Colleges should not be allowed to have sanctuary policies
HB 37: Would prohibit any private postsecondary institution eligible for tuition equalization grants from implementing a sanctuary policy. Sanctuary policies restrict employees' cooperation with federal and state officials or law enforcement officers
reporting immigration status information. Any private postsecondary institution that refuses to cooperate may lose state funding or state-administered federal funding, which includes scholarship funds received by students.Speaker Stacey Abrams
opinion in support of voting NO: Institutions of higher learning should not be compelled to act as immigration enforcement officers. More concerning, if the institution violates the policy, all students would be punished. For example, if a
school violates the policy, any HOPE Grant recipient could lose funding, regardless of immigration status.
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 112-57-11 on Feb/22/17; Speaker Abrams voted NO; State Rep. Vernon Jones voted YES.
Source: Speaker Stacey Abrams website on Georgia voting record HB 37
Feb 22, 2017
Vernon Jones:
Co-sponsored bill to crack down on illegal immigrants
After he regained office, Jones quickly became a pariah to fellow Democrats as he aligned himself with Republicans on
controversial measures, including co-sponsoring a proposal to crack down on unauthorized immigrants.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 2022 Georgia Governor race
Apr 16, 2021
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023