Past and present Governor candidates from Michigan: on Immigration


Abdul El-Sayed: Support pathway to citizenship

As the son of Egyptian immigrants, I understand the value of our immigrant communities across Michigan and the United States. In Michigan, immigrants drive our agricultural output and offer crucial healthcare services across the state. As governor, I will support our immigrant communities and fight for a pathway to citizenship. It's time for Michigan to be a leader and consider what it can do to be a 'Sanctuary State'.
Source: 2018 Michigan Gubernatorial website AbdulForMichigan.com Nov 1, 2017

Abdul El-Sayed: Biracial families like mine inspire more diverse government

Michigan gubernatorial candidate and University of Michigan alum Abdul El-Sayed discussed his candidacy and platform to more than 150 students and community members at the Ford School of Public Policy.

As the son of Egyptian immigrants, El-Sayed recognized the unlikeliness of his candidacy. However, he stressed that his background of coming from a biracial family reflects the goals he has for Michigan to become more inclusive. "This is the American family I grew up in," El-Sayed said. "We didn't always agree. The one thing we could agree upon was our future, that we could believe in this society regardless of background."

Opposite to what some have said about his campaign, El-Sayed said his background and religious differences won't hinder him, but will hopefully inspire a more diverse government. "If you're not going to vote for me because I'm Muslim, you weren't going to vote for me anyway," he said.

Source: MI Daily Staff on 2018 Michigan Gubernatorial race Mar 13, 2017

Abdul El-Sayed: People who look like me are not sitting on the sidelines

El-Sayed told the crowd that some people think they can make the country great again by telling people who "look like me" that they don't belong here and they should sit on the sidelines. "We are not sitting on the sidelines," he said. "We must act. We cannot wait until our children are poisoned or their schools are shut down."

His supporters say his family reflects the diversity of the state. His parents are immigrants who left Egypt in pursuit of greater opportunity in America and other family members are farmers, teachers, and small-business owners who have lived in Gratiot County for generations.

Last month, Trump ordered a controversial ban on travel for immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries wracked by terrorism including Iran, Iraq and Syria.

Source: The Detroit News on 2018 Michigan Gubernatorial race Feb 25, 2017

Rick Snyder: 50,000 skilled worker visas to repopulate Detroit

Snyder unveiled a proposal that calls for the US government to allocate 50,000 special visas over the next five years to lure highly skilled immigrants to live and work in the bankrupt city of Detroit. Snyder's plan, which would need to be implemented by the US government, is aimed at bringing jobs to the city while stemming an exodus of residents. Detroit's population has fallen to about 700,000 from a peak of 1.8 million in 1950.

The EB-2 visas would be aimed at individuals with advanced degrees and exceptional skills in fields like the auto industry and life sciences, Snyder said. EB-2 visas allow individuals with special talents to enter the country without a job offer. There is no precedent for special visas to be issued for a specific geographic area, Snyder said. But he compared the program to a current one that grants visas to physicians who agree to work in under-served areas.

"Where else could you find a house for the prices you're going to find here? It's a good deal," Snyder said.

Source: Reuters on 2014 Michigan Governor's race Jan 23, 2014

  • The above quotations are from Winners and Losers
    Gubernatorial candidates from Michigan.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Immigration.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
Candidates and political leaders on Immigration:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Aug 12, 2018