Immigration

Democrat website

Here is the Democrat Platform on immigration. Below are the parts of it that tell how Democrats want immigration law changed, and that tell what Democrats believe about immigration.

Democrat goals

National/Border security. To "protect our national security..." "...cracking down on illegal immigration at the border..." "...a more permanent solution that keeps families together and our country safe..." "...the federal government (should) secure our borders..."

Citizenship for contributors "...provide a fair pathway to citizenship for those contributing to our society..." "...people who are living in the United States illegally....Undocumented workers who are in good standing must admit that they broke the law, pay taxes and a penalty, learn English, and get right with the law before they can get in line to earn their citizenship." "...create a road map that allows immigrants to become full-fledged citizens." "...deportation relief for up to five million undocumented immigrants who are contributing to their communities..."

Prosecute employers. "Employers who exploit undocumented workers undermine American workers, and they have to be held accountable." "...hold employers accountable for whom they hire."

Dreamers. "(Pass)...the DREAM Act, legislation ensuring that young people who want to contribute fully to our society and serve our country are able to become legal residents and ultimately citizens....children who came here through no fault of their own and are pursuing an education. ... youth who came to the United States as children, through no fault of their own, grew up as Americans and are poised to make a real contribution to our country."

Families. "...streamline the process of legal immigration for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, supporting family reunification as a priority..."

Deport criminals. "...prioritiz(e) the deportation of criminals who endanger our communities over the deportation of immigrants who do not pose a threat..." "...ensur(e) that immigrants who live here pay taxes."

Specifically: "(Pass) a comprehensive immigration reform bill similar to the one that Senate Democrats passed in the last Congress.... grounded in the principles of responsibility and accountability..."

Democrat beliefs

"Democrats believe that comprehensive immigration reform is essential to continuing the tradition of innovation that immigrants have brought to the American economy and to ensuring a level playing field for American workers."

"As President Obama said when he announced his executive order, “we were strangers once, too.” Democrats believe that immigrants add to the richness of our society,..."

"Our prosperity depends on an immigration system that reflects our values and meets America's needs."

"Today, the Southwest border is more secure than at any time in the past 20 years. Unlawful crossings are at a 40-year low, and the Border Patrol is better staffed than at any time in its history."

" Immigrant youth—who grow up attending our schools, churches, and places of recreation—come to this nation with the same desires and ideals the forefathers had; liberty, justice, and the pursuit of happiness.

Republican website

Here is the Republican Platform on immigration. Below are the parts of it that tell how Republicans want immigration law changed, and that tell what Democrats believe about immigration.

Republican Goals.

Import graduates and inventors. "We can accelerate the process of restoring our domestic economy-and reclaiming this country’s traditional position of dominance in international trade-by a policy of strategic immigration, granting more work visas to holders of advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math from other nations. Highly educated immigrants can assist in creating new services and products. In the same way, foreign students who graduate from an American university with an advanced degree in science, technology, engineering or math should be encouraged to remain here and contribute to economic prosperity and job creation. Highly skilled, English-speaking, and integrated into their communities, they are too valuable a resource to lose. As in past generations, we should encourage the world’s innovators and inventors to create our common future and their permanent homes here in the United States. 2012 Platform

Border security. "Our highest priority...is to secure the rule of law both at our borders and at ports of entry."

National Identification/E-Verify. "We support the mandatory use of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (S.A.V.E.) program – an internet-based system that verifies the lawful presence of applicants – prior to the granting of any State or federal government entitlements or IRS refunds. We insist upon enforcement at the workplace through verification systems so that jobs can be available to all legal workers. Use of the E-verify program – an internet-based system that verifies the employment authorization and identity of employees – must be made mandatory nationwide." "When Americans need jobs, it is absolutely essential that we protect them from illegal labor in the workplace. In addition, it is why we demand tough penalties for those who practice identity theft, deal in fraudulent documents, and traffic in human beings."

Path to Citizenship. "...we oppose any form of amnesty for those who, by intentionally violating the law, disadvantage those who have obeyed it. Granting amnesty only rewards and encourages more law breaking."

Sanctuary Cities. "...a Republican Administration and Congress will partner with local governments through cooperative enforcement agreements in Section 287g of the Immigration and Nationality Act to make communities safer for all and will consider, in light of both current needs and historic practice, the utility of a legal and reliable source of foreign labor where needed through a new guest worker program." "In order to restore the rule of law, federal funding should be denied to sanctuary cities that violate federal law and endanger their own citizens, and federal funding should be denied to universities that provide in-state tuition rates to illegal aliens, in open defiance of federal law." "State efforts to reduce illegal immigration must be encouraged, not attacked. The pending Department of Justice lawsuits against Arizona, Alabama, South Carolina, and Utah must be dismissed immediately."

Self Deportation. "We will create humane procedures to encourage illegal aliens to return home voluntarily, while enforcing the law against those who overstay their visas."

English. "...while we encourage the retention and transmission of heritage tongues, we support English as the nation’s official language, a unifying force essential for the educational and economic advancement of – not only immigrant communities – but also our nation as a whole."

Fence. "The double-layered fencing on the border that was enacted by Congress in 2006, but never completed, must finally be built."

Deport Criminals. "...we support Republican legislation to give the Department of Homeland Security long-term detention authority to keep dangerous but undeportable aliens off our streets, expedite expulsion of criminal aliens, and make gang membership a deportable offense.

Republican Beliefs.

"America is proud to be a nation of immigrants. Today’s legal immigrants make vital contributions to every aspect of our nation by enriching our culture and strengthening our economy."

"The greatest asset of the American economy is the American worker. Just as immigrant labor helped build our country in the past, today’s legal immigrants are making vital contributions in every aspect of our national life. Their industry and commitment to American values strengthens our economy, enriches our culture, and enables us to better understand and more effectively compete with the rest of the world. Illegal immigration undermines those benefits and affects U.S. workers. In an age of terrorism, drug cartels, human trafficking, and criminal gangs, the presence of millions of unidentified persons in this country poses grave risks to the safety and the sovereignty of the United States."

"We recognize that for most of those seeking entry into this country, the lack of respect for the rule of law in their homelands has meant economic exploitation and political oppression by corrupt elites. In this country, the rule of law guarantees equal treatment to every individual, including more than one million immigrants to whom we grant permanent residence every year.