State of Missouri Archives: on Immigration

Austin Petersen: Problem is welfare state incentive, not immigration

If we have a problem, the problem is the welfare state. Certainly, my ancestors were immigrants. They came through Ellis Island, which actually was a very strenuous test. They had to go through a strict security check, a strict disease check, and then they could be admitted. At the moment, what's happening is the incentives are such that we are incentivizing illegal immigration. We need to disincentivize it. We need to incentivize people to obey the law. Source: Merion West interview on 2018 Missouri Senatorial race Nov 17, 2017

Billy Long: Secure our border, finish the wall, end sanctuary cities

Hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants are flowing into our country, we must put an end to the Biden/Harris disaster at the border. Having an open border invites drug trafficking, human trafficking, and more. We must secure our border, finish the wall, reinstate the "remain in Mexico" policy, put an end to sanctuary cities, and enforce a merit-based visa system. Source: 2021 Missouri Senate campaign website BillyLong.com Oct 18, 2021

Catherine Hanaway: Work against improper enforcement of our immigration laws.

As U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, I prosecuted hundreds of illegal immigration cases, and as a result I know all too much about the dangers present in improper enforcement of our nation's immigration laws. With as many as 65,000 illegal immigrants residing in Missouri, the time to take action to protect our communities is now. As Governor, I will work to bolster Missouri's protections against illegal immigration. Action Plan:

Require employers to verify the legal status of their employees through E-Verify, a free system run by the Department of Homeland Security;
Require law enforcement officers to verify the legal status of those criminally detained or arrested who they suspect are in the country illegally;
End state cooperation with the resettlement of refugees from hostile regions like Syria until a better screening process is in place.

Source: 2016 HanawayForGovernor.com Missouri campaign website Feb 2, 2016

Chris Koster: Strengthen laws against hiring illegal aliens

"States all over the country are experiencing an increase in the number of illegals looking for work or sanctuary," Koster said in a statement. "One of the ways Missouri and other states have addressed the problem is to enact laws prohibiting employers from hiring illegal aliens. These laws are important to protecting our citizens, and they serve as a complement to existing federal laws." Source: Ozarks First on 2016 Missouri Gubernatorial race Nov 4, 2010

Claire McCaskill: Opposes border wall; also opposes path to citizenship

Q: Support DREAM Act (DACA), allowing "Dreamers" who arrived illegally as children, then grew up in the US, to achieve legal status if meet certain conditions? Support path to citizenship for America's 11 million illegal immigrants?

Josh Hawley (R): Opposes general path to citizenship. "Amnesty is not the answer." Supports Trump border wall. Position on DACA unclear. Criticized McCaskill for "giving illegal immigrants a free pass and allowing them to use children as a human shield."

Claire McCaskill (D): Voted for 2010 DREAM Act. Worked on bipartisan immigration proposal with path to citizenship for DACA kids combined with more border security. Opposes Trump's wall and family separations. Has opposed general path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Eric Greitens: Gave examples of Muslim immigration that has been positive

Two members of the audience expressed the view that the Koran teaches that all lax Muslims and non-Muslims are heretics and unbelievers that should be put to death. Instead of endorsing a ban on admitting Muslims, the candidate gave examples of Muslim immigration that has been positive. "In the aftermath of the war in Bosnia, I participated in relief efforts over there and got to know Muslims and Christians," began Greitens. "Which leads me to ask this question. Outside of Bosnia, where is the greatest concentration of Bosnians? Answer, south St. Louis. Some are Christian and some practice Islam." "Some 70,000 Bosnian refugees came and they have revitalized parts of south St. Louis city and county bringing an entrepreneurial spirit that creates jobs," explained Greitens. Source: Nevada Daily Mail on 2016 Missouri governor race Jul 20, 2016

Jason Kander: Agree with Obama immigration plan, but not executive action

Kander recently voiced support for elements of President Obama's executive amnesty program and has been a vocal opponent of immigration enforcement measures in the past:

Kander said he agreed with some of [Obama's] proposed immigration changes, but he objected to using the executive-order route when it appeared Congress is deadlocked on the matter.
Kander criticized a congressional Republican immigration reform plan as `right-wing wall building.`

Does Kander support sending a message to both sanctuary cities and criminals by limiting federal funding to local governments who refuse to comply with federal law and increasing criminal penalties on repeat offenders? Or will he stand with his party leaders in Washington who insist on doing nothing to address this ongoing public safety issue? Source: NRSC press release on 2016 Missouri Senate race Oct 20, 2015

John Brunner: Citizenship for veterans; but not for college grads

On immigration policy, Steelman and Akin both said they didn't support a proposal to allow citizenship for people who served in the US military or earned a college diploma.

Brunner said he would support allowing citizenship for immigrants who serve in the US military because of their service. But for immigrants who only get a college degree "they need to go follow the laws and get to the back of the line."

Source: Columbia Daily Tribune on 2012 Missouri Senate debate Apr 22, 2012

Josh Hawley: Immigration laws need overhaul but not via executive order

President Obama recently announced that he was dissatisfied with America's immigration laws--which he only sometimes bothers to enforce--and so he has decided to change them. By executive order.I suspect most Americans think our immigration policy is in need of an overhaul. But the Constitution says that laws are written by Congress, the people's elected representatives, and enforced by the president. President Obama's attempt to rewrite immigration law threatens this separation of powers. Source: The Joplin Globe on 2018 Missouri Senate race Dec 14, 2014

Josh Hawley: Amnesty is not the answer; supports border wall

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Lester Turilli: Supports immigration with more extensive background checks

Q: Your comments on the statement, "Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens"?

A: Legal immigration with more in-depth and extensive background checks will make the process safer. Our nation is founded on immigrants. I believe that the US Government should have stronger laws to bring people into citizenship. We need to stop illegal drug activity from entering through our borders.

Source: Email interview on 2016 Missouri candidacy by OnTheIssues Apr 25, 2016

Lucas Kunce: Attracting educated immigrants transfers wealth to US

Attracting immigrants educated elsewhere transfers wealth into the U.S. and lowers the education cost of creating a new industry. Some of America's greatest innovations have been created by immigrants. Attracting wealth and lowering costs like this should be a bipartisan issue. With regard to all those Chinese students and workers here, rather than educating and training them for their return to China, encouraging more to stay would be a huge transfer of wealth to us from a direct competitor. Source: The American Prospect on 2022 Missouri Senate race Dec 9, 2020

Mike Parson: Supports all legal immigrants, wants enforced border control

Though Parson was adamant in the enforcement and control of our borders, he spoke proudly of the importance of immigrants and the impact they have had on our society. Parson said, "This will always be a nation of immigrants. It is the one common trait we all share. Immigrants have an important role in the United States. However, we must work together to help control the amount of illegal activity that passes through this country while giving legal immigrants a chance to succeed in this country." Source: 2018 Missouri Governor office press release MO.gov Aug 20, 2018

Nicole Galloway: For Supreme Court decision protecting DACA

Q: Support DACA program for residents brought to U.S. as children?

Nicole Galloway: Yes. Thanks to Supreme Court, "more than 5,500 DREAMers [in state can] live, learn, and work without fear of deportation."

Mike Parson: No position found. Voted to prohibit state benefits or ability to receive driver's licenses for illegal aliens.

Source: CampusElect survey on 2020 Missouri Gubernatorial race Nov 3, 2020

Peter Kinder: Ask to halt immigration of Syrians to Missouri

Kinder delivered a letter to Governor Jay Nixon urging him to refuse to accept any Syrian refugees in Missouri until the federal government can ensure a proper vetting procedure is in place. In the letter, Kinder said the state must be certain that terrorists aren't "coming to Missouri masquerading as refugees."

"I respectfully ask that you direct all the appropriate state agencies to suspend the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Missouri until those assurances are satisfied."

Source: LtGov.mo.gov on 2016 Missouri gubernatorial race Nov 16, 2015

Roy Blunt: Clear delineation of a border, and enforcement

Immigrants, Refugees, & Asylum Seekers: The most basic requirement of a sovereign nation is the clear delineation of a border, and as important: a willingness to enforce it. Unfortunately, the federal government has all but failed in this critical area of national security, with thousands of illegal aliens--many from our southern neighbor, others from who knows where--streaming across our border each and every day.

As Majority Whip, Roy Blunt helped shepherd through Congress a tough but fair immigration bill--a bill that ordered additional security agents to the border, the construction of a southern border fence, and levied stiff penalties on employers caught in violation of the law. In this new Congress, Blunt has once again led the fight by making sure that immigration policies which would grant amnesty to illegal immigrants do not become law.

Source: Vote-USA.org on 2010 Missouri Senate incumbents Nov 23, 2010

Sarah Steelman: Take away all the incentives that are attracting illegals

On immigration policy, Steelman and Akin both said they didn't support a proposal to allow citizenship for people who served in the US military or earned a college diploma. "I believe we've got to take away all the incentives that are attracting the illegals to begin with," Steelman said.

Source: Columbia Daily Tribune on 2012 Missouri Senate debate Apr 22, 2012

Todd Akin: Illegal immigrants receiving benefits is unacceptable

The recent announcement that DHS will stop deporting and begin giving work permits to illegal immigrants who came to the US as children has again sparked a larger debate about immigration.

The idea of illegal immigrants receiving federal benefits like food stamps or Social Security is unacceptable to most Americans. We welcome legal immigrants who can contribute to these programs and in turn can receive benefits. But if you have not paid into the programs, and you are not legally in this country, you should not be allowed to receive benefits.

Not surprisingly, it is illegal already for illegal immigrants to receive federal benefits. Since the rule of law is under assault by the Obama administration, particularly when it comes to immigration, it is unlikely DHS would even start checking immigration status on their own initiative. That is why I recently introduced the VERIFI Act, which would require an individual's immigration status to be checked before receiving any benefits.

Source: Todd Akin in Kansas City Star; 2012 Missouri Senate debate Jun 26, 2012

Bill Eigel: Call out militia to deport undocumented immigrants

Bill Eigel promised that if elected governor he'd invoke a provision in the Missouri Constitution allowing him to call out the militia to round up and deport undocumented immigrants. That means mobilizing sheriffs, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the National Guard, Eigel said. "I'm also the only candidate for governor that's gonna go after every one of the 50,000 to 70,000 illegal immigrants that are bringing crime into our community," Eigel said, adding: "And if I have to drive the buses myself to the border of this country, we're going to take our state back, folks."

Eigel said he was not worried about the logistics of feeding, housing and providing for other basic needs of the thousands he would take into custody. "We have jails across the state that can serve as holding facilities," Eigel said.

He also said he is unconcerned about the cost. "I'm pretty sure that we have the surplus necessary to buy a fleet of buses that we're going to use to actually transport these individuals."