Politico.com: on Immigration
Brett Kavanaugh:
Two cases shine light on leaning towards anti-immigration
[One pundit says], "Kavanaugh would likely lend strong support to the administration's hard-line immigration agenda. Immigration hawks praise 2 opinions in particular.""In Fogo de Chao v. Dept of Homeland Security , Kavanaugh opposed granting
special visas for Brazilian workers when American workers could do the same job. And in Agri Processor v. NLRB, Kavanaugh said a union election should have been voided because it was `tainted' by votes from undocumented immigrants."
Source: Politico.com on lead-up to SCOTUS Confirmation Hearing
Jul 10, 2018
Bruce Braley:
Supports comprehensive reform but not amnesty
Braley denied that the Senate immigration bill he supports includes amnesty. The Democrat blamed the border crisis in part on the House's failure to take up the bill that passed the Senate. He noted that Arizona Sen. John McCain and Florida Sen.
Marco Rubio supported the measure because it forces people in the country illegally to admit wrongdoing, pay a fine and go to the back of the line. "Amnesty is when you break the law and there are no consequences," said Braley.
Source: Politico.com e-zine on 2014 Iowa Senate debate
Sep 28, 2014
Caitlyn Jenner:
For a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants
Jenner told Sean Hannity that she supports Trump's wall along the southern border. But she also hinted that she sympathizes with undocumented immigrants already living in the U.S. Asked if California's 1.75 million undocumented immigrants should have
a path to citizenship, Jenner told CNN, "I would hope so.'' Saying she is "for legal immigration," Jenner added she was inspired to run for governor by some of the current upheaval on the border, which she said included "kids in cages."
Source: Politico.com on 2021 CA recall race
May 10, 2021
Caitlyn Jenner:
Would try to repeal California's sanctuary state status
[On the Mexican border]: "I am for LEGAL immigration. I strongly support the wall and I oppose open borders," she tweeted. "As Gov, I will end CA being a sanctuary state and I would see violent criminals deported immediately." Jenner did not address the
fact that as governor, she would have limited power over the issue, since California's sanctuary state status is the result of legislation that has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. Governors do not have the power to unilaterally repeal laws.
Source: Politico.com on 2021 CA recall race
May 10, 2021
Charlie Baker:
Revoke MA National Guard on border due to family separation
Citing federal government actions that are "resulting in the inhumane treatment of children," Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has revoked his offer to send National Guard helicopters and personnel to the Southwestern border.Baker had previously
pledged a UH-72 Lakota helicopter and two military analysts to the border on June 1 and were expected to be deployed at the end of the month. The Massachusetts National Guard has sent personnel and resources to the border in the past under previous
administrations, including for Presidents Obama and Bush.
Democrats, who have sought to tie Baker to Trump with little success so far in his reelection campaign, argued that the governor's reversal on National Guard resources doesn't go far
enough. "Governor Baker should have never offered our state's resources to enforce Donald Trump's inhumane immigration policy in the first place," said Jay Gonzalez, one of the Democrats seeking the party nomination.
Source: Politico.com on 2018 Massachusetts gubernatorial race
Jun 18, 2018
Donald Trump:
Fact-check: End chain migration? It can't actually happen
[My immigration plan] protects the nuclear family by ending chain migration. Under the current broken system, a single immigrant can bring in virtually unlimited numbers of distant relatives. Under our plan, we focus on the immediate family by limiting
sponsorships to spouses and minor children. Politico.com Fact-Check: Family reunification has been the basis for immigration since 1965. Under this law, if you marry that guy you met while working in Shanghai, you can bring him home.
And his 2-year-old. And when you'd like his parents to help with child care, you can bring them in too, after a few years. If we had a family immigration system without limits, this structure could theoretically lead to the dreaded chain migration. That
Chinese spouse can petition for his sister, and her family, and so on. But the immigration system's waiting lists make chain migration a theory that doesn't really happen in practice. This is because each link in the chain takes years to complete. \
Source: Politico.com FactCheck on 2018 State of the Union address
Jan 26, 2018
Ed Gillespie:
Send migrant kids back to parents in Central America
Both men agreed that migrant children should be sent back to Central America: Gillespie declined to take a position on the bill introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), which would prohibit any further expansion of Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals, a program that shields some young undocumented immigrants from deportation. "I have not seen the bill," said Gillespie. "I haven't seen Sen. Cruz's bill, but I think President Obama overreached, and we're seeing the consequences today.
The compassionate response is to make clear, 'Don't keep doing this, don't keep sending these children here, because they are not going to be afforded American citizenship,'" he added. "The most compassionate thing we can do is for them to return to
their parents."Warner emphasized the need to speed up the processing of these children, but he said "many of these children will be sent home. That process will result in some of those kids going back, but there ought to be a process," he said.
Source: Politico.com weblog on 2014 Virginia Senate debate
Jul 26, 2014
Jay Gonzalez:
No MA National Guard on border due to inhumane policies
Citing federal government actions that are "resulting in the inhumane treatment of children," Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has revoked his offer to send National Guard helicopters and personnel to the Southwestern border.Baker had previously
pledged a UH-72 Lakota helicopter and two military analysts to the border on June 1 and were expected to be deployed at the end of the month. The Massachusetts National Guard has sent personnel and resources to the border in the past under previous
administrations, including for Presidents Obama and Bush.
Democrats, who have sought to tie Baker to Trump with little success so far in his reelection campaign, argued that the governor's reversal on National Guard resources doesn't go far
enough. "Governor Baker should have never offered our state's resources to enforce Donald Trump's inhumane immigration policy in the first place," said Jay Gonzalez, one of the Democrats seeking the party nomination.
Source: Politico.com on 2018 Massachusetts gubernatorial race
Jun 18, 2018
Jeb Bush:
OpEd: Vigorously booed as moderate, by deep conservatives
Jeb Bush was never going to be the favorite of the RedState crowd. During the convention's debate watch party Thursday night, he was vigorously booed, especially over his more moderate remarks on immigration. But the former Florida governor's
high-energy performance Saturday was a marked contrast with his lackluster debate performance, and he was well-received, proof that in his stronger moments, he can engage--if not win over--skeptical audiences.
He tore into Hillary Clinton and the Obama administration over the Keystone Pipeline and foreign policy, messages that went over well in the room, and some in the audience also applauded his vigorous criticism of Donald Trump.
He didn't convert many attendees, but he showed he could hold his own in deeply conservative territory.
Source: Politico.com on 2015 GOP RedState Gathering
Aug 7, 2015
Jeb Bush:
End heartless policy of family separation at southern border
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on Monday called on President Donald Trump to end the "heartless policy" of separating parents and children who cross the U.S. border illegally. [Under the Trump administration's zero-tolerance immigration policy,
US authorities hold illegal immigrant adults in jail while their children are sent to government shelters. DHS announced that nearly 2,000 kids had been separated from their parents during a six-week period ending last month.
Many of those children are being held in juvenile detention centers.] "Children shouldn't be used as a negotiating tool. @realDonaldTrump should end this heartless policy and
Congress should get an immigration deal done that provides for asylum reform, border security and a path to citizenship for Dreamers," Bush said online in a tweet replying to Trump.
Source: Politico.com on 2018 Trump Administration
Jun 18, 2018
Jennifer Granholm:
If we want true American exceptionalism, fix immigration
If we want true American exceptionalism, let's fix immigration. In order to keep America competitive--in order to remain "exceptional"--we must leverage the key strand of our national DNA: our global diversity. Our major national competitors are mostly
homogeneous. Our diversity is our competitive advantage. Our blend of people and cultures and talent and perspectives can keep us the strongest, the smartest, the most advanced nation on Earth--if we have the right immigration policies.
Source: Politico.com column for 2014 Michigan Gubernatorial race
Nov 21, 2012
Kirstjen Nielsen:
No apology for separating illegal immigrant parent from kids
[Under the Trump administration's zero-tolerance immigration policy, US authorities hold illegal immigrant adults in jail while their children are sent to government shelters.] Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen pushed back at the growing
condemnation of her agency's practice of separating migrant families at the border, telling a gathering of law enforcement officers, "We will not apologize for the job we do.""This department will no longer stand by and watch
you attack law enforcement for enforcing the laws passed by Congress," Nielsen said. "We will not apologize for the job we do, or the job law enforcement does, or the job the American people expect us to do."
Releasing parents who bring children across the border would be tantamount to giving them "a get out of jail free card," Nielsen said.
Source: Politico.com on 2018 Trump Administration
Jun 18, 2018
Mark Warner:
Send migrant kids back to Central America, after processing
Both men agreed that migrant children should be sent back to Central America: Gillespie declined to take a position on the bill introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), which would prohibit any further expansion of Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals, a program that shields some young undocumented immigrants from deportation. "I have not seen the bill," said Gillespie. "I haven't seen Sen. Cruz's bill, but I think President Obama overreached, and we're seeing the consequences today.
The compassionate response is to make clear, 'Don't keep doing this, don't keep sending these children here, because they are not going to be afforded American citizenship,'" he added. "The most compassionate thing we can do is for them to return to
their parents."Warner emphasized the need to speed up the processing of these children, but he said "many of these children will be sent home. That process will result in some of those kids going back, but there ought to be a process," he said.
Source: Politico.com weblog on 2014 Virginia Senate debate
Jul 26, 2014
Mick Cornett:
Says the term "sanctuary cities" is a manipulative label
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett said President Trump and his Cabinet should pay more attention to the details of their immigration policy rather than threatening "sanctuary cities," which mayors said was an imprecise term used to stir up fears among
voters. "We're not interested in some label that seems to be generated by people outside the mainstream for some political or manipulative effect," said Cornett, who will soon finish his term as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
Source: Politico.com on 2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial race
Mar 29, 2017
Peter King:
Secure border plus a pathway to citizenship
Rep. Peter King is urging Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) to bring up immigration reform, saying it would benefit the nation and the Republican Party to undertake an overhaul that includes a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
In the missive, dated April 23, King tells Boehner that a "confluence of events" makes immigration reform possible, including a path to citizenship coupled with "strong and real" border security and enforcement measures: "It would be in our country's
national interest as well as the interest of our party if this could be achieved," King wrote.
King calls for the "strongest language" possible that would compel President Barack Obama and future administrations to comply with whatever border-security
laws that lawmakers write. Security measures included in the Senate Gang of Eight bill, as well as a separate House border-security bill passed through a House committee last year, provide a "good base" to start from, he said.
Source: Politico.com 2014 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Apr 24, 2014
Peter King:
Don't reward illegal behavior, but can't deport 11 million
A letter from Rep. Peter King (R-NY) to Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) adds to a quiet but growing chorus of comments from House Republicans during the current congressional recess speaking in favor of immigration reform this year--which remains a steep
uphill battle, with the House GOP fundamentally divided on the hot-button issue: "It would be in our country's national interest as well as the interest of our party if" comprehensive immigration reform "could be achieved, and
I want to assure you of my support as this effort goes forward," King wrote. "As to the issues of legalization and citizenship for undocumented immigrants, I fully understand and appreciate the argument that illegal behavior should not be rewarded,"
King wrote. "The reality though is that we are not going to deport 11 million immigrants."
The letter, which has not been widely released, was obtained by POLITICO and confirmed by King's office.
Source: Politico.com 2014 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Apr 24, 2014
Sarah Huckabee Sanders:
Pledges to defund sanctuary cities, already done in 2019
Sanders came under attack from [Lt. Gov. Tim] Griffin, who criticized her campaign video pledge to "prohibit sanctuary cities and cut off funding for cities that deliberately violate immigration laws." Griffin noted that [Gov. Asa] Hutchinson in
2019 had already signed into law a measure cutting off state funding to so-called "sanctuary cities" that do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement authorities.
Source: Politico.com e-zine on 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial race
Jan 25, 2021
Steve Bullock:
Keep Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
Bullock brings up the Trump administration's recent decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program protecting young undocumented immigrants. He spoke out publicly against the move when it happened,
but he also privately confronted John Kelly, Trump's chief of staff, about the program's survival when the retired general was serving as the Homeland Security secretary earlier this year.
Source: Politico.com on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Oct 11, 2017
Steve Bullock:
Public DACA support, also tries private persuasion with GOP
Bullock brings up the Trump administration's recent decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program protecting young undocumented immigrants. He spoke out publicly against the move when it happened, but he also privately confronted
John Kelly, Trump's chief of staff, about the program's survival when the retired general was serving as the Homeland Security secretary earlier this year.
Source: Politico.com on 2020 Montana gubernatorial race
Aug 19, 2018
Elon Musk:
Defends H-1B program bringing in high-skilled immigrants
The nationalist-populist right, led by MAGA strategist Steve Bannon, urged the incoming administration to end the H-1B visa program as part of a broader crackdown on immigration. The so-called tech right, led by Musk, wanted Trump to defend
the program on the grounds that high-skilled immigration is integral to spurring economic growth and fueling "American dynamism." Ultimately, the tech right carried the day, with Trump intervening in the online spat to defend the H-1B program.
Source: Politico.com on 2025 Trump Cabinet
Jun 7, 2025
Page last updated: Aug 14, 2025