Question by Columbian staff writer Kathie Durbin:
Assuming Congress does not act this year, what is your vision for strengthening our borders and dealing with the 12 million undocumented immigrants who are in the U.S. today? Do you favor amnesty? Deportation? A path to citizenship for illegals? What is your take on the Arizona law? Please be specific.
David Castillo, Republican
I do not favor amnesty. Any discussion of how to deal with illegal immigrants must begin from the perspective that amnesty is off the table. You do not get citizenship when your first act upon entering this country was an illegal act.
From my time working at the Department of Homeland Security, I came to realize that border security is a national security issue. We must secure the border by using physical barriers, drones, advance sensor technology, and National Guard troops until additional border agents can be trained.
We must require the use of E-Verify by every public service agency and every private employer. And, every illegal immigrant who is currently in jail must be deported to their country of origin.
Once these three things have been done, I believe we can have a reasonable discussion about remaining illegal immigrants.
I did support the Arizona law and believe it was the right step for the state of Arizona. We cannot begin to fathom what that state goes through on a daily basis. In addition, the Arizona law mirrors federal law. If the federal government is not going to uphold its responsibilities, the state has a duty to protect its citizens.
Cheryl Crist, Democrat
Our immigration policy must be crafted with common sense and compassion. Laws that spread fear — like Arizona’s SB 1070 — don’t help. We don’t need an enormous, expensive wall to keep our country safe. I instead support using that money to provide more well-trained, well-equipped personnel. We can expand the use of E-Verify by private companies, and hold accountable companies that exploit undocumented workers. We must also provide undocumented immigrants already here with a clear path to citizenship. This isn’t a radical idea — the U.S. military offers a path to citizenship for immigrants who serve.
Denny Heck, Democrat
I believe we need comprehensive immigration reform that is tough, practical, and smart. The recent law passed in Arizona is an incredibly strong and revealing example of the failure by Congress to fulfill its responsibility to maintain an immigration system that meets our economic needs while keeping our country secure. A state-by-state process in dealing with immigration into our country is no solution.
We certainly need to improve our border security against terrorist threats and dangerous drug trafficking. We need an employment verification system that works, and employers are required to implement. And we must require that people earn the right to stay here, pay unpaid back taxes plus a penalty, complete community service and learn English.
This is a tough, practical and smart solution to address our broken immigration system, and it must be done.
David W. Hedrick, Republican
I absolutely oppose illegal immigration and any attempt to reward illegal immigrants with amnesty.
Our Constitution specifies very few, specific things that the Federal government must do. I find it more than a little ironic that those serving in our Federal government do so many things they are prohibited from doing by our Constitution, and at the same time, abdicate their responsibility to do things such as border protection that are specifically required by that same document.
The notion that illegal immigrants do work that Americans won’t do is absurd. This lie has been told for some time. In this economic environment the truth is becoming clearer: illegal immigrants are stealing jobs from unemployed American workers and depressing wages across the nation. They are also risking our national security with their lawless border crossings. This must stop! I fully support immediately using U.S. troops and Border Patrol acting within their respective, lawful roles to defend our border.
I fully support the recent law passed in the state of Arizona. With political leaders in the Federal government ignoring their constitutional obligations and tripping over themselves to pander to the illegal community, states like Arizona are left with no other option than to enforce the law themselves. Arizona has set a courageous and honorable example that the remaining states in our union should follow.
As a U.S. Congressman, I will be on the front line in the fight against any attempt to grant amnesty to any individual whose first act in this country was to break our laws by entering this country illegally. Illegal immigrants should not be rewarded; they should be deported.
Jaime Herrera, Republican
I understand the frustration that led Arizona to act aggressively. If we had the same violent drug wars seeping over our borders, I would not want others condemning actions we took to protect ourselves in light of the federal government’s failure to secure our borders.
As a Member of Congress I will do everything in my power to strengthen our existing border operations in order to get our borders under control. I do not support amnesty for illegal immigrants, and I don’t believe we can seriously discuss what to do with the people already here illegally until we’ve stemmed the flow of people crossing into our country illegally every day. Whatever it takes, whether it’s a wall, a fence, or new technologies, we must secure our borders.
I support high levels of legal immigration and will work to protect those who want to play by the rules. Our country has a tradition of openness for those who want to come to America and respect the law and I intend to uphold that tradition. Our rich heritage of diverse cultures is part of what makes America great.
Norma Jean Stevens, Independent
We need and must secure our borders by whatever means necessary to protect us from those who want to harm America and its citizens. Those here that are not of legal status must leave on their own will and come back in the legal way. The immigrants that have worked hard to be legal or become a citizen must not be allowed to think that their hard work was for nothing. We are a land of laws, and to be here in our great country, you must follow the laws and come in the legal way. The Arizona law mirrors the federal laws. The federal laws are actually more stringent then Arizona’s. The Arizona law bans racial profiling and there must be reasonable causes to stop or ask someone their legal status. With the federal law, a person can be stopped and asked for their legal status without reasonable cause. I support the Arizona law 100 percent.
