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Jack Reed on Immigration

Democratic Sr Senator (RI)

 


No benefits to foreign workers without Congress' approval

Q: The final Executive Totalization Social Security Agreement with Mexico could lead to Social Security benefits going to individuals who worked in the US while illegal. Do you support the Totalization Agreement?

A: I believe that Congress should play a role in the consideration of any agreement that has the potential to significantly affect the Social Security Trust Fund, and we need to develop a more comprehensive and constitutional method to review all such agreements. Without Congressional action last year, Pres. Bush could have authorized a unilateral agreement, even if the agreement accelerated the insolvency of the Social Security Trust Fund and led to cuts in earned benefits. Therefore, as an interim measure, I supported legislation to prohibit the use of funds to administer Social Security benefit payments under a totalization agreement with Mexico. I believe any such agreement must be fully examined so that it does not adversely impact benefits earned by American citizens.

Source: Senior Citizens League Guide to the 2008 US Senate Campaigns , Oct 10, 2008

Voted for 1996 Immigration Reform bill

Voted for 1996 Immigration Reform bill.
Source: 1996 National Political Awareness Test , Jan 1, 1996

Rated 8% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance.

Reed scores 8% by USBC on immigration issues

OnTheIssues.org interprets the 2005-2006 USBC scores as follows:

About USBC (from their website, www.usbc.org):

U.S. Border Control, founded in 1988, is a non-profit, tax-exempt, citizen`s lobby. USBC is dedicated to ending illegal immigration by securing our nation`s borders and reforming our immigration policies. USBC [works with] Congressmen to stop amnesty; seal our borders against terrorism and illegal immigration; and, preserve our nation`s language, culture and American way of life for future generations.

Our organization accepts no financial support from any branch of government. All our support comes from concerned citizens who appreciate the work we are doing to seal our borders against drugs, disease, illegal migration and terrorism and wish to preserve our nation`s language, culture and heritage for the next generations.

Source: USBC website 06n-USBC on Dec 31, 2006

Terminate national emergency at the Southern border.

Reed voted YEA Joint Resolution on Proclamation 9844

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives: That the national emergency declared by the finding of the President on February 15, 2019, in Proclamation 9844 is hereby terminated.

Proclamation 9844 issued by the president on Feb. 15, 2019: Declares a state of national emergency at the southern border to address the issues of illegal immigration and criminal trafficking into the US: `The current situation at the southern border presents a border security and humanitarian crisis that threatens core national security interests and constitutes a national emergency. The southern border is a major entry point for criminals, gang members, and illicit narcotics. The problem of large-scale unlawful migration through the southern border is long-standing, and despite the executive branch`s exercise of existing statutory authorities, the situation has worsened in certain respects in recent years. Because of the gravity of the current emergency situation, it is necessary for the Armed Forces to provide additional support to address the crisis.`

Opposing the Proclamation (supporting the Resolution), ACLU press release, 2/15/2019 The ACLU issued the following statement upon filing a lawsuit: `By the president`s very own admission in the Rose Garden, there is no national emergency. He just grew impatient and frustrated with Congress, and decided to move along his promise for a border wall `faster.` This is a patently illegal power grab that hurts American communities and flouts the checks and balances that are hallmarks of our democracy.`

Legislative outcome Passed House 245-182-5 roll #94 on Feb. 26; pass Senate 59-41 roll #49 on March 14; Vetoed by Pres. Trump; veto override failed, 248-181-3 (2/3 required), roll #127 on March 26

Source: Congressional vote 19-HJR46 on Feb 26, 2019

Anti-border security, according to CC survey.

Reed opposes the Christian Coalition survey question on border security

The Christian Coalition inferred whether candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'Increase Border Security Including Additional Infrastructures ?' Self-description by Christian Coalition of America: "These guides help give voters a clear understanding of where candidates stand on important pro-family issues" for all Senate and Presidential candidates.

Source: CC Survey 20CC-12 on Sep 10, 2020

Sponsored bill to disallow religion-based immigration ban.

Reed co-sponsored NO BAN Act

The National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants Act (NO BAN Act) imposes limitations on the President`s authority to suspend or restrict aliens from entering the US. It also prohibits religious discrimination in various immigration-related decisions, such as issuing a visa. The President may temporarily restrict the entry of any class of aliens after determining that the restriction would address specific and credible facts that threaten U.S. interests such as security or public safety.

GovTrack.us analysis (4/21/21): President Donald Trump instituted a travel ban on eight countries: Chad, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. The Supreme Court upheld the travel ban 5-4 in the 2018 decision Trump v. Hawaii. Trump`s travel ban was popularly nicknamed `the Muslim ban` by its Democratic critics since most of the countries it applied to were majority Muslim, and because Trump as a 2016 candidate had indeed proposed a Muslim ban. Regardless, President Joe Biden rescinded the policy on his first day in office. Currently, federal law bans any person from being discriminated against when entering the U.S. on the basis of five characteristics: race, sex, nationality, place of birth, or place of residence. The NO BAN Act would add another category: religion.

Rep. Tom McClintock in OPPOSITION: President Trump invoked this authority against countries that were hotbeds of international terrorism and that were not cooperating with the US in providing basic information about travelers coming from these countries. The left called it a `Muslim ban.` What nonsense. Without this authority, the president would have been powerless to take simple, prudent precautions against terrorists and criminals from entering the US.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 218-208-3 on April 21, 2021, rollcall #127; introduced in Senate with 42 co-sponsors but no further Senate action during 2021.

Source: H.R.1333/S.1891 21-HR1333 on Feb 25, 2021

Other candidates on Immigration: Jack Reed on other issues:
RI Gubernatorial:
Allan Fung
Ashley Kalus
Luis-Daniel Munoz
Nellie Gorbea
Seth Magaziner
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Patricia Morgan
Sheldon Whitehouse

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