State of New Hampshire Archives: on Immigration

Bill O`Brien: On immigration: I simply believe Illegal is Illegal

Steve Marchand: 1st-generation American; sees positive power of immigration

You see, I know what economic anxiety feels like for many families today, because I grew up as a first-generation American on the West Side of Manchester in a working-class home. My parents were immigrants to this country and neither graduated high school. Their work ethic was unmatched. They started small businesses. And they played by the rules. There were times of deep economic anxiety along the way--and they never stopped working. They are America.

Through their hard work, I was able to be the first in my family to go to college. I've had good jobs in the public and private sectors. And I've had the honor of serving the City of Portsmouth as a councilor and mayor.

I've lived the American Dream here in New Hampshire, and it gives me the optimism and confidence that future working families can live it, too.

Steve Marchand: Aggressively pursue pro-immigration policies

Marchand: We have to be the most inclusive state that we can be as it relates to immigration. The states that are getting the youngest are seeing the largest influx of immigrants. Some of the rhetoric that has come from Republicans makes it more difficult for immigrants to see N.H. as a great place to come. That's a shame. If we're going to get younger and more entrepreneurial, [we should be] aggressively pursuing pro-immigration policies.

Jim Rubens: Halt immigration of Syrian refugees; reduce all immigration

Here's where I stand:
• Halt refugee immigration from countries known to harbor terrorism and where refugees cannot be documented as peaceful.
• Reduce total immigration from the present 1 million per year so that all immigrants are welcomed, assimilate into American culture, accept the American system of law and government, and do not take jobs from Americans.

Derek Dextraze: Come in the legal way

A: Oppose - Come in the legal way and I am fine with you being here.

Martin O`Malley: Accept 65,000 Syrians now, and more later if needed

O'MALLEY: No, what I would say is this is: I called for America to accept the 65,000 refugees we were asked to accept. And if this humanitarian crisis increases, we should accept more.

Q: So the idea of a halt or a pause?

O'MALLEY: There are wider vulnerabilities than when it comes to refugees. I met recently with some members of the and the wait times are a year, 18 months, 24 months. There is a pretty excruciating process that refugees go through. We need to invest more in terms of the other sort of visas and the other sort of waivers. The sort of genocide and brutality that victims like the Chaldean Christian communities are suffering, these are not the perpetrators. We need to be the nation whose enduring symbol is the Statue of Liberty, and we need to act like the great country we are, according to our values.

Jon Lavoie: Enforce the laws & send back those here illegally

A: There already is a legal way to become a citizen of the USA. Those that are here ILLEGALLY need to be sent back. These laws simply need to be enforced.

Kelly Ayotte: I support English as the language of our country

A: The federal government is falling down in its fundamental duty, add that includes securing our borders. It's penny-wise and pound-foolish that we aren't doing it. When you think about the strain on our education system and our healthcare system, as a result of our failure to enforce our immigration laws, it's not only wrong for our safety, but it's wrong in terms of the strain on our system and wrong for the peopl who are here to play by the rules. We are all the sons and daughters of immigrants. But when our ancestors came here, they came here to play by our rules. Our ancestors came here and they learned English. I support English as the language of our country. For the people who are here illegally, I don't support amnesty; it's wrong to the people who are waiting in line. We need to stop that because I think that's where the Administration is heading next.

Kelly Ayotte: Supports Arizona law against illegal immigration

A: Unlike our Attorney General and our Director of Homeland Security, I have read the AZ law. It's only about 10 pages, but it's a very important law. I absolutely support what Arizona has done here. Anyone who reads it would know it's a very fair law as well. We should absolutely be passing the same law here in N.H.