State of Pennsylvania secondary Archives: on Immigration
Lou Barletta:
Make visa overstay a felony
The first bill Lou introduced in Congress cracked down on sanctuary cities. Lou also introduced immigration reform legislation in 2013 that would make overstaying an American visa a felony criminal offense and
would require biometric exit requirements such as digital fingerprinting to more accurately tell whether non-U.S. citizens have departed the country on time or remained in the country illegally.
Source: 2018 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial website LouBarletta.com
Everett Stern:
Create work visa program that respects the rule of law
The time is long past for government and industry to get together and create a comprehensive work visa system that respects the rule of law. The economic security of our citizens and the working conditions for those allowed to work in the US legally
depend on it. I intend to press for a temporary work visa program to address the needs of our industries, ensuring that the livelihoods of our citizens are given priority and those given entry are treated fairly.
Source: 2021 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website EverettStern.com
Jun 20, 2021
Joe Biden:
Allow citizenship for DREAMers
[Visiting the University of Pennsylvania], "The majority of people think there's plenty of room to integrate these Dreamers into society," Biden said. "The vast majority of these kids, and now grown-ups, have been honorable citizens, have done well in
our education system, done well in our society, and have already become more American than many Americans by adopting the basic fundamental truths that we believe are the essence of what America is."
Source: The Daily Pennsylvanian on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Feb 19, 2019
Bob Casey:
Comprehensive reform, including DREAMers staying
Q: Support DREAM Act (DACA), letting "Dreamers" who arrived illegally as children, then grew up in the US, to achieve legal status if meet certain conditions?Lou Barletta (R): No. Has sponsored bills to defund & end DACA & "stop
DACA in its tracks." Introduced 2017 bill to remove Dreamers' work eligibility permits.
Bob Casey (D): Yes. Supported 2017 bill to let Dreamers become permanent residents if they meet certain qualifications.
Q: Support path to citizenship for America's 11 million illegal immigrants?
Lou Barletta (R): No. Supports zero-tolerance policy to strengthen existing laws & protect borders. Against citizenship for US-born children of illegal immigrants.
Bob Casey (D): Yes. Must secure our borders, but also finally address comprehensive immigration reform. Voted for 2013 comprehensive reform bill with earned path to citizenship, which failed.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Pennsylvania Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Lou Barletta:
Zero-tolerance policy; stop DACA in its tracks
Q: Support DREAM Act (DACA), letting "Dreamers" who arrived illegally as children, then grew up in the US, to achieve legal status if meet certain conditions?Lou Barletta (R): No. Has sponsored bills to defund & end DACA & "stop
DACA in its tracks." Introduced 2017 bill to remove Dreamers' work eligibility permits.
Bob Casey (D): Yes. Supported 2017 bill to let Dreamers become permanent residents if they meet certain qualifications.
Q: Support path to citizenship for America's 11 million illegal immigrants?
Lou Barletta (R): No. Supports zero-tolerance policy to strengthen existing laws & protect borders. Against citizenship for US-born children of illegal immigrants.
Bob Casey (D): Yes. Must secure our borders, but also finally address comprehensive immigration reform. Voted for 2013 comprehensive reform bill with earned path to citizenship, which failed.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Pennsylvania Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Tom Wolf:
Supports having a Pennsylvania DREAM Act
Q: Support legal status for "DACA" recipients or "Dreamers," who grew up in the US after being brought here as children?
Scott Wagner (R): No statements found on DREAM Act.
Tom Wolf (D): Yes. Supports having a Pennsylvania DREAM Act.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide: Pennsylvania Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Bob Casey:
Support sanctuary cities like Philadelphia
Republican opponent Lou Barletta has been campaigning against Mr. Casey's support for sanctuary cities such as Philadelphia. At the campaign rally for Barletta,
Mr. Trump told voters that Mr. Casey is for "open borders" and has opposed every one of his proposals to toughen immigration policy and border security
Source: Washington Times on 2018 Pennsylvania Senate race
Aug 20, 2018
Lou Barletta:
Avoiding immigrant family separation is amnesty
Facing a national uproar [over family separations when detaining illegal immigrants], House GOP leaders included a provision in the immigration proposal that would require families to be kept together for as long as they are in the custody of the
Homeland Security Department. The proposed fix won approval from moderate House Republicans, but not from Republican Senate candidates.In Pennsylvania, Rep. Lou Barletta took an aggressive approach against his own party's immigration plan. "I
hate it," he said. "What does it accomplish? It's amnesty."
Barletta said he has compassion for the children caught up in the immigration debate. But he said he wouldn't support an immigration bill unless it also blocked employers from hiring
immigrants who are in the US illegally, eliminated "sanctuary cities" & ended family-based migration.
Barletta said his party should "absolutely" fear a political backlash from its base this fall should Republicans push through the current compromise.
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune on 2018 Pennsylvania Senate race
Jun 17, 2018
Ken Krawchuk:
Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens"?
A: I support a pathway to citizenship for anyone.ÿ (Not a state issue.)
Source: OnTheIssues interview: 2018 Pennsylvania Governor candidate
May 18, 2018
Jim Christiana:
Hold sanctuary cities liable for damages by the undocumented
If elected, Christiana planned to focus on combating the nationwide opioid epidemic, repealing ObamaCare and making higher education more affordable, according to his campaign website.
He also wants to crack down on illegal immigration, saying he has supported attempts to hold sanctuary cities liable for damages by undocumented immigrants, according to his campaign website.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on 2018 Pennsylvania Senate race
May 15, 2018
Jim Christiana:
Replace lottery visa program with a merit-based process
Christiana said he supports a permanent solution to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that would include a path to a legal status, but not citizenship, for DACA recipients.
Giving them citizenship, he said, would incentivize more illegal immigration.
He also supports Trump's proposal to scrap the lottery visa program and replace it with a merit-based process; altering the industry-specific visas; and narrowing the family reunification program to consider only immediate family members.
"Labeling that chain migration is more divisive rhetoric that is unnecessary," he said, referring to how Trump has discussed the program.
Source: Lancaster Online on 2018 Pennsylvania Senate race
Apr 7, 2018
Rick Saccone:
Intense vetting of immigrants from terror-training countries
Rick Saccone will fight for intense vetting of immigrants coming from terror-training countries.
He supports Kate's Law and securing our borders.
Source: 2018 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website RickSaccone.com
Feb 3, 2018
Katie McGinty:
Support DREAM Act plus earned path to citizenship
Q: On Immigration: Support the DREAM Act, which would allow children brought into the country illegally to achieve legal status if they meet certain conditions? (Need to have graduated from high school, have a clean legal record, and attend college or
serve in the military.)McGinty: Yes
Toomey: Opposed Obama's Executive Order giving legal status.
Q: On Immigration: Should America's 11 million undocumented residents have an earned path to citizenship?
McGinty: Yes
Toomey: No
Source: CampusElect Voter Guide to 2016 Pennsylvania Senate race
Oct 9, 2016
Katie McGinty:
Communicate with federal officials instead of sanctuary city
With a U.S. Senate vote looming to strip Philadelphia and other municipalities of millions in federal grant funding, Democrat Katie McGinty has called on Mayor Kenney to alter his "sanctuary city" policy. Philadelphia, which is receiving nearly $39
million in Community Development Block Grants this year, could see that funding put at risk due to legislation being pushed by Sen. Pat Toomey to punish sanctuary cities.McGinty called for increased communications between local police and federal
law enforcement agencies. Pressed for an opinion on Kenney's policy, McGinty said she was not "rejecting" it but wanted the city to share information with federal officials on pending releases of inmates. "I have asked for reconsideration of this aspect
of the policy," McGinty told reporters. "I think we are all safer and better off when law enforcement is in constant contact about individuals that they have concerns about."
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer on 2016 Pennsylvania Senate race
Jul 7, 2016
Pat Toomey:
Withhold community funding from sanctuary cities like Philly
Philadelphia is receiving nearly $39 million in Community Development Block Grants this year, but could see that funding put at risk due to legislation being pushed by Sen. Pat Toomey to punish sanctuary cities.As one of his first acts in office in
January, Kenney reinstituted the city policy that bars police and prison officials from telling U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents about the pending releases from detention of undocumented prisoners, unless a prisoner was previously
convicted of a violent felony and ICE has a warrant.
Toomey's bill would block sanctuary cities from receiving federal Community Development Block Grants, budgeted for $3 billion in 2016. Toomey argued that it was
justifiable to withhold federal funding because sanctuary cities impose additional costs: "If you're going to impose those costs, then it's very reasonable for the federal government to choose not to subsidize that," Toomey said.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer on 2016 Pennsylvania Senate race
Jul 7, 2016
John Fetterman:
Wife's family came to Americas as illegal immigrants
My wife Gisele has a remarkable story that is so emblematic of our experience as a country, and the work on immigration that lies before us.Like so many before her, she came to this country with her family from Brazil in search of a better life --
fleeing a violent and unstable situation.
Her family overstayed their visa, and for years, she lived in the shadows undocumented while her mother cleaned houses for twelve hours a day.
And while Gisele would eventually obtain her green card, it shouldn't have been that hard.
I would not have the beautiful family I have today if Gisele's family was not brave enough to take a risk and come to America.
Chances are, you wouldn't have the family you have today either if it weren't for immigration because, at one point in time, most of us came from a boat somewhere.
Source: 2016 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website JohnFetterman.com
Apr 1, 2016
John Fetterman:
If illegals lead an exemplary life, create a path
We need to embrace the millions of courageous people who come to America in search of a better life and a chance to contribute. As Senator, I will fight for:- Creating a pathway to citizenship for everyone that has been in this country that is
leading productive lives. If you are leading an exemplary life, there needs to be a path for you. This process can be supported with the safety of background checks.
- The DREAM Act:
Why do we stop people that want to go to college and contribute to society? Everyone in this country deserves the opportunity to receive higher education and pursue their dreams.
- Remedying our country's inhumane deportation practices.
I can't imagine how taxing it must be to live in fear every day that your family will be torn apart. We need to zero in on the bad by further scrutinizing who exactly we are targeting when it comes to criminals that do not belong in this country.
Source: 2016 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website JohnFetterman.com
Apr 1, 2016
Tom Wolf:
Support a Pennsylvania DREAM Act
Support a Pennsylvania DREAM Act: Tom Wolf believes that children who have spent the vast majority of their lives in United States should have the same opportunity to earn a college degree as all other students in the Commonwealth.
In this vein, Tom Wolf will support the creation of a Pennsylvania DREAM Act, which will allow eligible students to access in-state tuition rates at Pennsylvania colleges and universities.
Source: 2014 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial campaign website, WolfForPA
Sep 1, 2014
Bob Casey:
Stricter employment rules and enforce the borders
Q: How would you solve the problem of 12 million immigrants, employers who hire them and our border security?A: On immigration, the real issue is something that the Bush administration can do right now--getting tough on employers who employ
undocumented workers. Get tough with audits and fines. Since 1990 the number of audits & fines has gone down. We have to get serious about enforcing our borders. Some of the legislation talks about that. But we have to get tough on employers right now
Source: Second 2006 Pennsylvania Senate Debate
Apr 19, 2006
Page last updated: Oct 12, 2021