Platform Two: Immigration

Greetings.

Immigration is another platform that each of the candidates address. None of the candidates argue that there is a problem with the current affairs of immigration, but each of the candidates have a different way to deal with it.

Republican front runner John McCain believes that a secure border is an essential element of national security, and not only entry and exit of people, but also effective screening of cargo at ports and points of entry into the country. By using pro-growth policies such as keeping spending in check, holding down taxes and cutting unnecessary regulatory burdens, McCain believes that businesses can hire and pay the best, which would give reasons against hiring illegal immigrants. To also do this, McCain wants an attempt to keep employers in business and the economy on top so that skilled Americans and immigrants can have opportunities. Expanding upon this is an education system that gives younger workers skills and also allows displaced workers to modernize so they can pursue other opportunities. And finally, McCain promotes an assimilation of the immigrant population, including learning of English, American history and civics, and respecting the values of a democratic society.

With much different opinions, Ron Paul first believes that we must first physically secure borders and coastlines. Paul believes we should do whatever it takes to control entry into the country before undertaking complicated immigration reform proposals. Following this, Ron Paul wants to more strongly enforce the visa rules. He then proposes that officials track down visa holders and deport immigrants who have overstayed their visa or violated US laws. Ron Paul is against amnesty or welfare for illegals, feeling that taxpayers should not pay for illegals who use hospitals, clinics, schools, roads or social services. Ron Paul is also the only candidate to openly support an end to birthright citizenship, which is an incentive to enter the US illegally. Finally, after doing all of this, Ron Paul believes they must pass true immigration reform.

On the Democratic side of the race, Hilary Clinton calls for a comprehensive immigration reform that respects immigrants’ heritage and honors the rule of law. She believes the reform must strengthen the borders, greater cross-cooperation with neighbors, strick but fair enforcement of the laws, federal assistance to state and local governments, strict penalties for those who hire undocumented workers, and a path to earned legal status for those who are here, working hard, and paying taxes, respecting the law, and willing to meet a high bar. Clinton believes that we need to know more about who is in the country by securing the borders and making employers comply with the law against hiring undocumented workers. Though Clinton opposes a guest worker program, she supports the DREAM Act, which provides a path to citizenship through military service or higher education for children who were brought to the US by their parents.

Much like Ron Paul, Republican Mike Huckabee believes that securing borders must be top priority and has reached the level of national emergency. Huckabee supports money being given to train and deploy more agents, add drone planes, build more fences and vehicle barriers, and put up radar and camera towers. He also supports turning the current “catch and release” to “catch and detain” for those entering illegally or overstaying their visas. Unlike Hilary Clinton, Mike Huckabee opposes amnesty and the DREAM Act, believing it would lead to amnesty. He also will not tolerate sanctuaries for illegals and wants the government to crack down on rogue cities or employers who hire illegals, and will punish with fines and penalties so large that it is not worth the risk. Huckabee also opposes giving driver’s licenses to illegals and supports legislation to prevent states from doing so. Mike Huckabee also will not allow open borders, amnesty, sanctuary, false Social Security numbers or driver’s licenses for illegals.

Finally is Democratic candidate, Barack Obama, who believes the problems are the increase of undocumented immigrants, the immigration bureaucracy is broken, overwhelmed, and forcing legal immigrants to wait years for applications, and immigration raids are ineffective and placed the burdens on immigrant families. To rectify these problems, Obama has plans. Obama wants to preserve the integrity of the borders with additional personnel, infrastructure and technology on the border and in ports of entry. He believes we must fix the dysfunctional immigration bureaucracy and increase the number of legal immigrants to keep families together and meet the demand for jobs that employers cannot fill, that we need to remove incentives to enter illegally by cracking down on employers who hire undocumented immigrants. Finally, Obama believes that we also need to promote development in Mexico to decrease illegal immigration.