The Los Angeles Times: on Immigration


Adam Laxalt: Stop illegal immigration & stop sanctuary states

Laxalt, the grandson of former Sen. Paul Laxalt, joined several other state attorneys general in a letter seeking to stop illegal immigration and prevent states like Nevada from becoming a "sanctuary state."
Source: Los Angeles Times on 2018 Nevada gubernatorial race Nov 1, 2017

Antonio Villaraigosa: AZ immigration law is unpatriotic & unconstitutional

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said he supports a boycott of Arizona by the city of Los Angeles, and he called that state's newly passed immigration law "unpatriotic and unconstitutional." "No person should be treated differently in the eyes of the law." The mayor said boycotts have worked in the past and cited the city's divestiture from South Africa in the 1980s to protest apartheid.
Source: Los Angeles Times, "Boycott over Crackdown" Apr 29, 2010

Barbara Boxer: Cosponsored DREAM Act: legal status from college or military

The candidates sparred over immigration. Fiorina reiterated her objections to comprehensive immigration reform. But in a nod to the importance of Latino voters, who make up 18% of the state's likely voters, Fiorina said for the first time Wednesday night that she would support the so-called DREAM Act, which would allow certain undocumented youths to earn legal status by attending college or serving in the military. It was a rare moment of agreement: Boxer is a co-sponsor of that bill.
Source: Los Angeles Times coverage of 2010 CA Senate Debate Sep 2, 2010

Carly Fiorina: No comprehensive reform; but yes to DREAM Act

The candidates sparred over immigration. Fiorina reiterated her objections to comprehensive immigration reform. But in a nod to the importance of Latino voters, who make up 18% of the state's likely voters, Fiorina said for the first time Wednesday night that she would support the so-called DREAM Act, which would allow certain undocumented youths to earn legal status by attending college or serving in the military. It was a rare moment of agreement: Boxer is a co-sponsor of that bill.
Source: Los Angeles Times coverage of 2010 CA Senate Debate Sep 2, 2010

Delaine Eastin: Supports Dreamers against deportation

Eastin expressed strong support for the young people currently shielded from deportation under the DACA program. Eastin has called for enhanced protections of all immigrants and for Congress to immediately take action to protect young people known as Dreamers. "The President's decision to end DACA is devastating to some of our best and brightest young people," Eastin said in a statement.
Source: Los Angeles Times on 2018 California gubernatorial race Sep 5, 2017

Ezola Foster: Illegal immigration causes school overcrowding

In 1996, Foster said she believed that illegal immigration was the primary cause of overcrowding in the Los Angeles school system.
Source: (X-ref education) Los Angeles Times Aug 24, 2000

Kevin de Leon: Abolish ICE at "Abolish Ice Cream Social"

De Le¢n's campaign has focused on the party's energized liberal faction. He supports single-payer healthcare, aggressive goals for renewable energy and helped lead the successful effort to raise the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour. He has criticized Feinstein, known for having moderate tendencies, for being too conciliatory toward Trump, such as when she urged people to have "patience" with the president last year.

On Friday night [at the Democratic State Convention which endorsed De Leon over his opponent Dianne Feinstein], De Le¢n hosted an "ABOLISH ICE CREAM SOCIAL" for delegates, a nod toward the Democratic-led effort to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency after its agents separated thousands of children from their parents after they crossed the border.

Source: Los Angeles Times on 2018 California Senate race Jul 14, 2018

Loretta Sanchez: Refugees are not the enemy, today nor in our history

One Republican Senate candidate, Tom Del Beccaro, was comfortable with blocking Syrian refugees. "The wise thing would be to upgrade our ability and our intel and if we are satisfied, if we are able to vet people, we could look to resuming it," he said.

Democrat Loretta Sanchez voted against the House refugee measure in Congress. In brief remarks before the vote, she indicated she was influenced by the history of her California district, heavy with refugees from Vietnam and neighboring countries. In an echo of today's circumstances, their arrival more than a generation ago was opposed by some. "We are ready to help resettle these refugees," she said, noting that most are women, children and the elderly. "Refugees are not the enemy. Remember the words on the Statue of Liberty: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

Source: LA Times, "Syrian Refugees?" on 2016 California Senate race Nov 22, 2015

Marco Rubio: Give kids of illegal immigrants in-state tuition rates

Recent moves by key party figures suggest agreement on broad principles, but still no consensus about what specific policies Republicans should champion.

Gov. Chris Christie parted with many of his fellow Republicans by signing a Democratic-backed law that would allow immigrants in the state illegally to qualify for in-state tuition rates. Christie argued it was common sense for the government to help immigrant children obtain college educations in order to maximize its investment.

Source: 2013 Los Angeles Times on 2016 presidential hopefuls Jan 8, 2014

Pat Buchanan: Terrorists are among us as undocumented immigrants

Though Osama bin Laden may be the instigator and financier of terror, the war crimes of Tuesday last were carried out by men who live among us. The enemy is already inside the gates. How many others among our 11 million "undocumented" immigrants are ready to carry out truck bombings, assassinations, sabotage, skyjackings?
Source: Los Angeles Times, Op-Ed page Sep 18, 2001

Rand Paul: We will find a place for illegal immigrants in America

Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky is endorsing a pathway to citizenship for the nation's 11 million illegal immigrants. In a speech, the potential 2016 presidential candidate declares, "If you wish to live and work in America, then we will find a place for you."

Paul's path to citizenship would come with conditions that could make it long and difficult for illegal immigrants. Chief among these, Congress would have to agree first that progress was being made on border security.

Paul's speech is peppered with Spanish phrases from his youth in Texas, references to his immigrant grandparents and praise for Latino culture. He says his party must adopt a new face toward Hispanics and says conservatives must be part of it. "Immigration reform will not occur until conservative Republicans, like myself, become part of the solution. I am here today to begin that conversation," Paul says. "Let's start that conversation by acknowledging we aren't going to deport" the millions already here, he says.

Source: Associated Press in Los Angeles Times Mar 18, 2013

Rand Paul: Replace de facto amnesty with bipartisan reform

Paul would aim to secure the border before illegal immigrants could begin taking steps toward citizenship, as a necessary first step to get support from conservatives. Congress would also have to agree annually for 5 years that border security was progressing in order for the other reforms to keep moving forward. In year two of his plan, illegal immigrants would begin to be issued temporary work visas, and would have to wait in line behind those already in the system before moving forward toward citizenship. A bipartisan panel would determine the number of visas per year. High-tech visas would be expanded and a special visa for entrepreneurs would be issued.

Paul would not attempt to crack down on employers by expanding working verification systems, something he says is tantamount to "forcing businesses to become policemen."

"My plan will not grant amnesty or move anyone to the front of the line," Paul says. "But what we have now is de facto amnesty."

Source: Associated Press in Los Angeles Times Mar 18, 2013

Rocky Chavez: We are home for the tired and oppressed, even Syrians

Accept Syrian refugees? The desire for a middle ground was evident in interviews with some candidates for the 2016 Senate contest. Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris said she opposed the GOP measure because it set up an "untenable" system: She said, "There is a drum beating, that the way to keep us safe is to keep outsiders out. That scares me." But, she added, "there's no question that we have to be vigilant."

Republican Rocky Chavez sounded remarkably like her. "One, security is important, but two, we need to understand we are a country that has always been a home for those who are hungry and tired and oppressed," said Chavez. He recalled the internment in the 1940s of Japanese Americans who posed no threat, and of America's earlier reluctance to accept Jews escaping Nazi Germany. "That didn't set well in history," he said, adding that "a measured approach is often the best approach. We should not take counsel from our fears and we should not take positions that go against our values."

Source: LA Times, "Syrian Refugees?" on 2016 California Senate race Nov 22, 2015

Tom Steyer: $2.3M to recruit and train immigrant advocates

Democratic mega-donor Tom Steyer, is stepping up support of immigrant rights with a $2.3-million donation to the University of California Immigrant Legal Services Center and seven other organizations. The gift from Steyer's nonprofit, NextGen America, will support a national legal services network to help recruit and train more advocates for immigrants. About $90,000 will help the UC center hire a full-time immigration attorney for a year at UC Riverside, where Steyer visited Friday.
Source: Teresa Watanabe in L.A. Times on 2020 presidential hopefuls Oct 20, 2017

Marco Rubio: Finish the border wall; deport all who came in illegally

March 2024: "But with migrant crossings hitting record highs during Biden's term, Rubio said, 'Whether they're deported through the hearings that they're waiting for, they're deported through some effort to expedite it, something's going to have to happen. No one's saying it would be easy, but something's going to have to happen with all the people that have come here,' he said. [Los Angeles Times, 3/30/24]

According to the Denver Gazette, "15 GOP senators asked the Biden administration to finish the border wall along the southern border. The senators claim the Biden administration has 'failed to acknowledge the crisis at our border,' and they note how the administration has sent 1,500 active-duty troops to assist border officials 'who are tasked with defending nearly 2,000 miles of border territory,' according to the letter. Senators who signed the letter include Marco Rubio (R-FL) and J.D. Vance (R-OH)." [Denver Gazette, 5/10/23]

Source: Los Angeles Times in 2024 Trump Research Book Aug 2, 2024

  • The above quotations are from Media coverage of CA political races in The Los Angeles Times.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Immigration.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
2016 Presidential contenders on Immigration:
  Republicans:
Gov.Jeb Bush(FL)
Dr.Ben Carson(MD)
Gov.Chris Christie(NJ)
Sen.Ted Cruz(TX)
Carly Fiorina(CA)
Gov.Jim Gilmore(VA)
Sen.Lindsey Graham(SC)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Gov.Bobby Jindal(LA)
Gov.John Kasich(OH)
Gov.Sarah Palin(AK)
Gov.George Pataki(NY)
Sen.Rand Paul(KY)
Gov.Rick Perry(TX)
Sen.Rob Portman(OH)
Sen.Marco Rubio(FL)
Sen.Rick Santorum(PA)
Donald Trump(NY)
Gov.Scott Walker(WI)
Democrats:
Gov.Lincoln Chafee(RI)
Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY)
V.P.Joe Biden(DE)
Gov.Martin O`Malley(MD)
Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren(MA)
Sen.Jim Webb(VA)

2016 Third Party Candidates:
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Roseanne Barr(PF-HI)
Robert Steele(L-NY)
Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA)
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Page last updated: Aug 06, 2024