|
David Walker on Immigration
|
|
|
Path to legal status but not to citizenship
Q: When you think about illegal immigration, which of the following solutions come closest to your opinion?- A. All illegal immigrants should be able to stay in the US legally
- B. Most illegal immigrants should be able to stay in the
US, with some exceptions
- C. Most illegal immigrants should be deported, with some exceptions
- D. All illegal immigrants should be deported
A: Choice B, with an understanding that there's a difference between citizenship and legal status.Q: Like what differences?
A: Immigrants can have legal residency but not citizenship--like voting
as a right of citizens and not legal residents. We need comprehensive immigration reform which includes, among other things, more temporary workers and much stronger enforcement.
Source: AmericansElect phone questionnaire by OnTheIssues.org
, Mar 30, 2012
Enforce employment laws on employers, not against immigrants
Q: Should illegal immigrants earn citizenship?A: Yes, under limited conditions like military service. In the vast majority of cases there'd be a pathway to legal status instead of citizenship.
Q: What about enforcement?
Q: My view is that we need reform but also enforcement, and then to let economics take over. We're not enforcing the laws.
Q: Enforce against whom? Should immigration laws be enforced by focusing on illegal immigrants themselves, or on their employers?
A: Enforcement means against employers.
But we should have more work permits--legal--and provide pathways to legal status as well. Citizenship might result from serving in the military, for example, a much higher bar than for legal status.
Source: Phone interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org
, Mar 30, 2012
Enforce against employers hiring illegals
Q: You said, "We're not enforcing the laws" -- which laws are you referring to?
A: I believe that government should enforce all applicable laws, especially the laws against employers hiring illegals.
Source: Email interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org
, Apr 1, 2012
Page last updated: Sep 22, 2018