Mark Walker on Immigration

Opposed to all forms of amnesty; close porous borders

Once we have made progress on border security, we can implement reforms to guest worker programs and the current citizenship process to ensure that those who are patiently waiting in line and following the law are able to enter legally and serve as productive members of our society.

Protect the border and prevent illegal entry

WALKER: Strongly Agree

Voted YES to ban DREAMer immigrants from military service.

Congressional Summary: The House voted on an amendment by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) to H.R. 5293, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2017. The amendment would prohibit funds from being used to extend the expiration of, or reissue a new expiration date to, the Military Accessions Vital to National Interest (MAVNI) program.

Recommendation by Heritage Foundation to vote YES:(6/16/2016): The MAVNI program is a pilot program authorizing "military services to recruit certain legal immigrants whose skills are considered to be vital to the national interest." However, a DoD memo has made it clear that DACA/DAPA recipients are eligible under this program, essentially opening up a pathway to amnesty for illegal aliens who enlist. By ensuring that this guidance ends, DOD will no longer be able to enlist illegal immigrants through MAVNI.

Recommendation by the ACLU to vote NO: (6/28/2011): The DREAM Act promotes fundamental fairness for young people by allowing access to affordable post-secondary education and military service opportunities, regardless of immigration status, and would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, have lived here for at least five years and have graduated from high school. The DREAM Act could result in billions of dollars in additional tax revenue from tapping the potential of DREAM-eligible students and future service personnel. Since September 11, 2001, more than 69,000 immigrants have earned citizenship while serving, and more than 125 who entered military service after that date have made the ultimate sacrifice in war by giving their lives for this nation.

Legislative outcome: Failed House 210 to 211 (no Senate vote)

Analyze terrorism and criminal threats on southwest border.

This bill calls for a southwest border threat analysis that includes an assessment of:
• terrorism and criminal threats posed by individuals and organized groups seeking to unlawfully enter the US through the southwest border
• improvements needed at and between ports of entry along such border to prevent terrorists and instruments of terror from entering the US
• gaps in law, policy, law enforcement, or international agreements that hinder effective and efficient border security, counterterrorism, anti-human smuggling and trafficking efforts, and the flow of legitimate trade along such border; and
• the current percentage of situational awareness and of operational control of US borders achieved by DHS of the international land and maritime borders of the US.
• The bill requires, every five years, a Border Patrol Strategic Plan that includes consideration of the southwest border threat analysis and an assessment of principal border security threats.