Jim Renacci on Immigration

Overturn DACA program: no legal status for DREAMers

Sherrod Brown (D): Yes. "We should not be targeting young people who are working, going to school, paying taxes & contributing to this country."

Jim Renacci (R): No. Voted in 2013 to overturn DACA program interim protection of Dreamers. Now supports Trump's approach-tying potential legalization to cuts in legal immigration & funding for border wall.

Supports border wall for Mexico plus temporary travel ban

Renacci opposes abortion, capital punishment and gay marriage but supports Trump's proposals to build a wall on the border with Mexico, impose a temporary travel ban and repeal and replace ObamaCare.

No amnesty; no legal benefits for illegals

No pathway to citizenship; yes official English

A: No.

Q: Do you support decreasing the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country?

A: No.

Q: Do you support establishing English as the official national language?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?

A: Yes.

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)