Last updated on: 3/10/2016 1:17:17 PM PST
Should the Federal Government Use Raids to Enforce Immigration Laws?
Pro (Yes)
Pro
"Wow, because of the pressure put on by me, ICE [US Immigration and Customs Enforcement] TO LAUNCH LARGE SCALE DEPORTATION RAIDS. It's about time!"
Source: Donald J. Trump, Twitter post, www.twitter.com/ realDonaldTrump, Dec. 24, 2015
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Con (No)
Con
"Our immigration enforcement efforts should be humane and conducted in accordance with due process, and that is why I believe we must stop the raids happening in immigrant communities... We have laws and we must be guided by those laws, but we shouldn't have armed federal officers showing up at peoples' homes, taking women and children out of their beds in the middle of the night… [The raids] have sown fear and division in immigrant communities across the country. People are afraid to go to work. They are afraid to send their kids to school. They are afraid to go to the hospital, or even the grocery store."
Source: Dan Merica, "Clinton Calls for Ending DHS Raids against Central American Families," www.wapt.com, Jan. 11, 2016
Con
"Absolutely not. How are federal raids going to work in New Mexico where 48% of the population is Hispanic. They're going to knock on my door, and 'Oh gee. You're the former governor. I guess you're OK, I guess we won't even come in and look in your closet or your basement.' But statistically the next door they knock on, New Mexico being 48% Hispanic, the next door they knock on is going to be someone who is Hispanic, and they are going to have to produce papers. It is going to be an ugly situation."
Source: Phone Interview with ProCon.org, June 14, 2016
Con
"The Obama administration is conducting nighttime deportation raids on immigrant families fleeing the horrible violence that's rampant throughout Mexico and Central America...
Our nation of immigrants needs a just immigration system that won't allow the ruling elite to divide working people. That means halting deportations...
The US government shouldn't be deporting innocent families who are fleeing violence, starvation and persecution in their home countries. Forcing them to return puts them at risk of rape, torture, and death. Many have already had family members murdered or actively threatened with murder...
The Obama Administration's night raids on immigrant families are a morally abhorrent response to a refugee problem deeply rooted in predatory U.S trade, drug and military policies."
Source: Jill Stein, "Obama: Stop Night Deportation Raids," jill2016.com (accessed Apr. 21, 2016)
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FORMER CANDIDATES
(Candidates who have withdrawn or who no longer meet our criteria appear below in black and white and in alphabetical order.)
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Con (No)
Con
"I’ve been very clear I don't support deportation. I don't support amending the Constitution or challenging the 14th Amendment. I think these are ideas that stoke anger but don’t solve problems."
Source: Alex Swoyer, "Carly Fiorina Slams Donald Trump on Immigration: His Ideas 'Stoke Anger,'" breitbart.com, Aug. 31, 2015
Con
"I am deeply concerned by recent news reports that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is planning a series of raids to deport families who risked their lives to flee violence, drug gangs, and death in Central America.
If these reports are true, they raise serious questions about due process for people seeking asylum, and these raids promise to needlessly rip apart more families and communities…
I am writing to respectfully request that D.H.S. reconsider this approach and instead look for ways to humanely treat people seeking refuge and to greatly improve the legal due process necessary for asylum...”
Source: Maggie Haberman, "Martin O'Malley Urges Obama Administration to Rethink Immigration Raids," nytimes.com, Dec. 30, 2015
Con
"Our nation has always been a beacon of hope and a refuge for the oppressed. As a country, we have a fundamental responsibility to keep families together and welcome those seeking refuge from extreme violence and persecution. I am therefore extremely disappointed that this weekend the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began large-scale raids in our communities to deport families who made the perilous journey to flee extreme violence…
Consistent with our welcoming immigrant tradition to harbor those fleeing violence and persecution, let us have compassion for unaccompanied minors and victims of domestic violence and criminal gang activity. I urge you to immediately end these raids and deport families back to countries where a death sentence awaits."
Source: Bernie Sanders, Letter to President Barack Obama, sanders.senate.gov, Jan. 7, 2016
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Not Clearly Pro or Con
"Twelve million illegal immigrants, to send them back, 500,000 a month, is just not — not possible. And it's not embracing American values. And it would tear communities apart. And it would send a signal that we're not the kind of country that I know America is."
Source: Charlotte Alter, "Transcript: Read the Full Text of the Fourth Republican Debate in Milwaukee,” time.com, Nov. 11, 2015
None Found
No position found as of Jan. 21, 2016
None Found
No position found as of Jan. 21, 2016
Not Clearly Pro or Con
"Restore our commitment to enforcement and public safety and the Rule of Law by rededicating DHS to fully enforcing the law, including through deportations and returns…
The Obama Administration has limited detention space for illegal immigrants who are taken into custody to limit the ability of ICE agents to detain illegal immigrants and begin the process of deportation. I will end that practice."
Source: Ted Cruz for President, "Cruz Immigration Plan," tedcruz.org (accessed Feb. 1, 2016)
None Found
Withdrew on Dec. 21, 2015; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
None Found
Withdrew on Feb. 2, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
Not Clearly Pro or Con
"But if people think that we are going to ship 11 million people who are law-abiding, who are in this country, and somehow pick them up at their house and ship them out of Mexico — to Mexico, think about the families. Think about the children."
Source: Charlotte Alter, "Transcript: Read the Full Text of the Fourth Republican Debate in Milwaukee," time.com, Nov. 11, 2015
None Found
No position found as of Feb. 3, 2016
None Found
No position found as of Feb. 3, 2016
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