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Gary Johnson on Immigration
Libertarian presidential nominee; former Republican NM Governor
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A ban based on religion violates our Constitution
Q: Do you plan to ban Muslims from US? Donald Trump: It's called extreme vetting. They're coming in by the tens of thousands and Hillary Clinton wants to allow a 550% increase over Obama.
Source: Johnson Twitter posts on Second 2016 Presidential Debate
, Oct 9, 2016
WRONG to deport 11 million undocumented from US
Donald Trump: The border patrol agents endorsed me because I understand the border. [Hillary Clinton] wants amnesty for everybody.
Gary Johnson: The deportation of 11 million undocumented immigrants is WRONG. Issue work visas.
Source: Johnson Twitter posts on Second 2016 Presidential Debate
, Oct 9, 2016
No random deportations; just keep out criminals & terrorists
Trump said during the debate, "I was endorsed by˙ICE. They've never endorsed anybody before -- on immigration. I was just endorsed by ICE. We're losing our jobs, people are pouring into our country. The other day we were deporting eight hundred people,
but these people that we were going to deport, for good reason, ended up becoming citizens. And it was 800 and now it turns out it might be 1800 and they don't even know."
Gary Johnson proposed a reformed immigration system that would "eliminate categories and quotas" and offer undocumented immigrants with an otherwise unblemished track record in the U.S. a path to legal status. Johnson wrote that border enforcement would
be focused on "keeping out real criminals and would-be terrorists."
Jill Stein responded, "Immigrants are among the most law-abiding groups out there. It is false for Trump to be fear-mongering that immigrants are a community of violence."
Source: 3rd-party commentary on First 2016 Presidential Debate
, Sep 26, 2016
Mexicans are looking for work, not murder & rape
Republicans are not welcoming to ethnic minorities. As a border state governor, the things that the Republican nominee for president is saying regarding immigration are absolutely incendiary. The fact that he is going to deport 11 million undocumented
workers, that he wants to build a fence across the border, that they are murders and rapists when in fact they are law abiding citizens and they are hard working and they are just looking to improve their lives as we all are looking to improve our lives.
Source: Johnson-Weld interview at National Press Club
, Jul 7, 2016
Deporting 11M illegal immigrants is based on misinformation
Q: Trump said that he wants to build a huge wall on our border with Mexico, and deport 11 million undocumented residents. Do you agree?JOHNSON: Well, I find both of his statements just incendiary, and I am speaking as a border state governor.
The deportation of 11 million illegal immigrants is really based on misinformation. Building a fence across the border borders on insanity. We should make it as easy as possible for somebody that wants to come into this country and work to be able to
get a work visa. I'm not talking about a green card; I'm not talking about a citizenship, but a work visa that should entail a background check and a Social Security card so that applicable taxes get paid. They are not taking jobs that
U.S. citizens want. They're hard-working individuals. The reason for the 11 million illegal immigrants is because there are jobs that exist in this country and they can't get across the border legally, so they cross illegally.
Source: CNN Libertarian Town Hall: joint interview of Johnson & Weld
, Jun 22, 2016
Make work visas as easy as possible
Q: What about work visas?JOHNSON: Look, if you're in the country illegally, come on in, get your work visa, as long as you've been law-abiding, we'll give you the work visa, and let's start make it easy to distinguish from a Border Patrol standpoint
the difference between bad people that are crossing illegally and the woman with her kids who knows there are jobs in El Paso, but she's got to wade across the Rio Grande with her kids to get that job.
Q: But that would also be considered illegal.
JOHNSON: It is. Yes, it is.
Q: From a compassionate standpoint, I get the distinction. But from a legal one?
JOHNSON: Make it as easy as possible for her to get a work visa so that the line is moving to get across the border. And if she's
gotten across the border already and she's held a job, look, come on in, get a work visa. Let's dot the i's and cross the t's on your being here legally. And I'm not even talking about being a citizen. Citizenry will still be a process.
Source: CNN Libertarian Town Hall: joint interview of Johnson & Weld
, Jun 22, 2016
Would veto Arizona SB 1070 as Latino racial discrimination
Johnson opposed Arizona SB 1070, and says he would have vetoed it were he the governor, though he understands and supports the spirit behind it. He says that the bill was devastating to drawing business to Arizona and believes the bill will create racial
discrimination.The Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act (Arizona SB 1070) was the broadest and strictest anti-illegal immigration measure during 2010. Federal law requires all aliens over the age of 14 to register with the US
government after 30 days, and to have registration documents in their possession at all times. The Arizona act additionally made it a state misdemeanor crime for an alien to be in Arizona without carrying the required documents, required that state
law enforcement officers attempt to determine an individual's immigration status during a "lawful stop, detention or arrest", when there is reasonable suspicion that the individual is an illegal immigrant.
Source: Wikipedia articles on Johnson's positions & Arizona SB 1060
, May 2, 2016
Bigger border fence will only produce taller ladders
Having served as Governor of a border state, Gary Johnson understands immigration. He understands that a robust flow of labor, regulated not by politics, but by the marketplace, is essential. He understands that a bigger fence will only produce taller
ladders and deeper tunnels, and that the flow of illegal immigrants across the border is not a consequence of too little security, but rather a legal immigration system that simply doesn't work. Militarizing the border, bigger fences, and other punitive
measures espoused by too many politicians are all simplistic "solutions" to a problem caused by artificial quotas, bureaucratic incompetence and the shameful failure of Congress to actually put in place an immigration system that matches reality.
Governor Johnson has long advocated a simplified and secure system of work visas by which willing workers and willing employers can meet in a robust labor marketplace efficiently and economically.
Source: 2016 presidential campaign website GaryJohnson2016.com
, Jan 11, 2016
Arizona anti-immigrant law leads to racial profiling
Immigration is an issue on which most of the so-called "mainstream" politicians in the US have shown a striking LACK of courage. A 2010 interview reported [on my] disdain for hardliners [regarding] the incendiary new immigration law passed in AZ: "I just
don't think it's going to work," he says. "I think it's going to lead to racial profiling. I don't know how you determine one individual from another--is it color of skin? --as to whether one is an American citizen or the other is an illegal immigrant."
Source: Seven Principles, by Gary Johnson, p.126-127
, Aug 1, 2012
A 10-foot wall just requires an 11-foot ladder
[One journalist] noted, rightly, that I favor an expansive guest worker program and am uncomfortable with the idea of mass deportation. So, he asked me about the idea of increasing security by means of a border wall."I have never been
supportive of the wall," I answered. "A 10-foot wall just requires an 11-foot ladder."
Source: Seven Principles, by Gary Johnson, p.127
, Aug 1, 2012
2 year grace period for illegals to get work visas
Potential immigrants should be issued a Social Security card, which would allow them to pay taxes.- There should be a two-year grace period for illegal immigrants to attain work visas so they can continue contributing to
America and begin taking part in American society openly.
- Immigrants should be able to bring their families to the US after demonstrating ability to support them financially.
Source: 2012 presidential campaign website, garyjohnson2012.com
, Nov 15, 2011
1 strike & you're out for legal immigrants who violate terms
It should be easier for a potential immigrant to get a work visa.- Streamline the legal immigration process to reduce illegal immigration and allow the U.S. to know who enters the country and for what reasons.
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Enforce a 'one strike, you're out' rule for immigrants who circumvent the streamlined work visa process.
- Impose and enforce sanctions on employers for noncompliance with immigration laws.
Source: 2012 presidential campaign website, garyjohnson2012.com
, Nov 15, 2011
Let some, but not all, illegal immigrants stay in US
OnTheIssues indicates that Gov. Johnson is open to all illegals being able to stay in the United States. The Governor is only open to some of the illegals being able to stay in the United States. The Governor supports a
2 year grace period for illegals to get work visas, after which those without work visas would be deported. He also believes in a "1 strike and you're out policy" for legal immigrants who violate the terms of their stay in the United States.
Source: Email interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org
, Nov 15, 2011
We educate the world's best & brightest; why send them back?
Q: You were a border-state governor. What would your approach to immigration be?A: Because of our convoluted immigration policies we're educating the best and brightest kids from all over the world and we're sending them back to their
countries of origin. Instead of them staying here to start up businesses that will employ tens of millions of Americans they go home and employ tens of millions of Indians. We're doing that to ourselves.
We should make it as easy as possible to be able to get a legal work visa--not citizenship, not a green card. Just a work visa, with a background check and a social security card so that applicable taxes would get paid.
And then legalize marijuana. 75% of the border violence with Mexico would go away.
Source: Tim Dickinson in Rolling Stone Magazine
, Jun 15, 2011
Open the border; flood of Mexicans would become taxpayers
Q: What is your view of the immigration issue? A: Hispanics who immigrate care about their families like other Americans care about their families. They're living in poverty in Mexico and can come to the US and do a lot better.
Q: By--according to
some--taking away jobs.
A: They work the lowest-paying jobs. And they are taking jobs that other Americans don't necessarily want. They're hardworking people who are taking jobs that others don't want. That's the reality.
Q: Would you open the
borders and make it easier to immigrate legally?
A: My vision of the border with Mexico is that a truck from the United States going into Mexico and a truck coming from Mexico into the United States will pass each other at the border going
60 miles an hour. Yes, we should have open borders.
Q: Many Americans fear the flood of immigrants that would follow.
A: They would become taxpayers. They're just pursuing dreams---the same dreams we all have. They work hard. What's wrong with that?
Source: David Sheff interview in Playboy Magazine
, Jan 1, 2001
Mexican immigrants are pursuing same dreams we all have
Q: In California, there was a backlash against illegal immigrants. Voters passed a proposition that would deny them medical & other services.A: It wouldn't be a problem if they were legal, so the process to make them legal should be easier.
Q:
Many Americans fear the flood of immigrants that would follow.
A: They would come over and take jobs that we don't want. They would become taxpayers. They're just pursuing dreams---the same dreams we all have. They work hard. What's wrong with that?
Source: Interview with David Sheff in Playboy Magazine
, Jan 1, 2001
Share costs of legal immigration between states & federal.
Johnson adopted the National Governors Association policy:
The Governors urge Congress to consider the following principles regarding immigration policies.- The decision to admit immigrants is a federal one that carries with it a firm federal commitment to shape immigration policy within the parameters of available resources we as a nation are determined to provide.
- The fiscal impact of immigration decisions must be addressed by the federal government. The states, charged with implementing federal policy, have shared and are sharing in the costs; however, there should be no further shift of costs to the states.
- A basic responsibility of the federal government is to collect and disseminate timely and reliable statistical information on immigration and its consequences for the United States.
- Federal immigration policies should ensure that new immigrants do not become a public charge to federal, state, or local governments.
- The federal government must provide adequate information to and consult with states on issues
concerning immigration decisions that affect the states.
- States should not have to incur significant costs in implementing federal laws regarding immigration status as a condition of benefits.
The Governors urge the following regarding Legalization and Naturalization:- States require maximum flexibility in determining and allocating resources to meet the needs of newly legalized aliens.
- The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) must be diligent in its efforts to ensure that felons are not naturalized and being given the benefits of citizenship rather than being deported.
- The naturalization process should be streamlined to be more efficient and accessible to eligible applicants wishing to become citizens, with all the rights and responsibilities thereof.
- The INS must take aggressive action to eliminate the backlog of naturalization applications, which is now approximately 800,000 nationwide.
Source: NGA policy HR-2: Immigration and Refugee Policy 01-NGA3 on Feb 15, 2001
Federal government should deal with criminal repatriation.
Johnson adopted the National Governors Association policy:
[Regarding illegal immigration], the Governors continue to call on the federal government to negotiate and renegotiate prisoner transfer treaties to expedite the transfer of criminal aliens in the United States who are subject to deportation or removal. The negotiations for such agreements should focus on:- ensuring that the transferred prisoners serve the balance of their state-imposed prison sentence;
- removing any requirement that the prisoners consent to be transferred to their countries of origin;
- structuring the process to require that the prisoners serve the remainder of their original prison sentence if they return to the United States; and
- considering economic incentives to encourage countries of origin to take back their criminal citizens.
Additionally, the Governors believe the federal government should:- increase the use of interior repatriation with countries contiguous to the United States;
- place INS officials in state and local facilities for early identification of potentially deportable aliens - nearer the point of their illegal entry - to ensure formal deportation prior to release; and
- upon the request of a state Governor, place INS officers in state courts to assist in the identification of criminal aliens pending criminal prosecution.
Finally, the Governors are concerned about the large number of deported felons that are returning to the United States. A significant number of the criminal alien felons housed in state prisons and local jails are previously convicted felons who reentered the United States after they were deported. The Governors urge the federal government to provide sufficient funds for proven positive identification systems, like the Automated Fingerprinting Identification System (AFIS), to allow for the expanded use of these systems in the rest of the nation.
Source: NGA policy HR-2: Immigration and Refugee Policy 01-NGA4 on Feb 15, 2001
Page last updated: Jan 07, 2019
