John Edwards
“In a new effort to combat terrorism, Senator John Edwards cosponsored legislation to tighten immigration controls and improve the use of technology at borders and ports of entry into the United States” (Edwards home page, 11/2/01)
-Also under this legislation, Edwards supported a closer monitoring of foreign students at U.S. universities, especially those from “rogue nations.”

EDWARDS: Let me say a word about my personal experience with this issue. I grew up in a family where my father worked in a mill all of his life. And when I was young, we moved to a small town in rural North Carolina, which is where I grew up. That town is now half Hispanic.
My family moved to that town because my father, who has a high school education and is still living, believed that by working hard and doing the right thing that his kids would have the opportunity for a better life. These Hispanic families? They came to Robbins, North Carolina, for exactly the same reason. And those who came and live there, who work hard and are responsible, they have earned the right to be American citizens.

Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico Sep 4, 2003

Joseph Lieberman

Lieberman supports favorable policies across the board: for example, he opposes generalizations about terrorism; he feels that America should be a place where all can take refuge; he supports creating a temporary work visa program that he hopes would reduce migrant deaths; he advocates increased ESL classes in rural America, among other agendas. See below.

His agenda focuses on seven key goals:
1) creating a new one-time earned legalization status;
2) strengthening family reunification;
3) offering temporary work visas;
4) fixing bureaucratic obstacles for immigrants and refugees;
5) protecting the rights of undocumented immigrants;
6) improving identification; and
7) achieving the American Dream.
(Lieberman for president home page 9/3/03)

Howard Dean

Dean would work for an immigration reform that bridges a greater partnership with Mexico and allowed immigrants to more easily become U.S. citizens. He does not want for the United States’ security concerns to supercede the hospitality for immigrants that America is known for. (Dean for President webpage)

The Americas are more important than War on Terror
" I think for 9/11 to have affected our immigration policy with Latin America is ridiculous. The last time I looked, not one of those 19 hijackers was Latino. The problem with this administration is they can only think about one problem at a time. They are bogged down in Iraq, they are not defending us from Osama bin Laden, and they are not paying any attention to Latin America, which is the most important hemisphere in American history."
Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico Sep 4, 2003


Dick Gephardt

Gephardt seems to be supportive of immigrant issues such as issuing visas and allowing residency.

Celebrate diversity and welcome hard-working immigrants

" We want to work together to improve homeland security and protect our borders, to keep out those people who want to bring us harm but also to celebrate our nation’s diversity and welcome those hard-working immigrants who pay taxes and keep our country strong."
Source: Democratic response to the State of the Union speech Jan 29, 2002

Voted YES on extending Immigrant Residency rules.

Vote on motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill that would extend by four months a law allowing some immigrants to remain in the country while pursuing legal residency.
Reference: Motion sponsored by Gekas, R-PA; Bill HR1885 ; vote number 2001-127 on May 21, 2001

Voted YES on more immigrant visas for skilled workers.

Vote to pass a bill to increase the number of temporary visas granted to highly skilled workers from 65,000 to 115,000 by the year 2000.
Reference: Bill introduced by Smith, R-TX.; Bill HR 3736 ; vote number 1998-460 on Sep 24, 1998

Immigration, Education and Civil Rights

Gephardt has been honored by the League of United Latin American Citizens for his accomplishments on immigration, education and civil rights. The National Council of La Raza presented Gephardt with their Annual Capital Award in 1999.
(NCLR, 2/15/99, LULAC 1998 award)


Bob Graham

Graham holds progressive views on immigration such as earned amnesty for those who have come to the U.S. illegally and increased visas for foreign workers.

Earned Amnesty for undocumented workers
Q: In your state, [Florida,] there are many immigrants. The Cuban-American immigrants who have a completely different situation. But for those that come from other countries, would you support legalizing them?
GRAHAM: I believe that we should have a policy of earned amnesty for those people who came into the US undocumented. If they, after receiving a work permit, met the standards of that permit, after a period of time they would be eligible to get a permanent residence status in the US.
Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico Sep 4, 2003

Voted YES on allowing more foreign workers into the U.S. for farm work.

Voted to create a national registry containing names of U.S. workers who want to perform temporary or seasonal agricultural work, and to require the Attorney General to allow more foreign workers into the U.S. for farm work under H-2A visas.
Bill S.2260 ; vote number 1998-233 on Jul 23, 1998

Voted YES on visas for skilled workers.
This bill expanded the Visa program for skilled workers.
Status: Bill Passed Y)78; N)20; NV)2
Reference: The American Competitiveness Act; Bill S. 1723 ; vote number 1998-141 on May 18, 1998

Voted YES on limit welfare for immigrants.
This amendment would have restored food stamp benefits to the children of legal immigrants
Status: Motion to Table Agreed to Y)59; N)41
Reference: Motion to table Kennedy Amdt #429; Bill S.947 ; vote number 1997-111 on Jun 24, 1997


John Kerry

Kerry advocates expediting the naturalization process and the reunification of family members. Kerry wants to restore benefits to legal immigrants and he supports the Dream Act. However, he concurrently supports increased border security measures. Also, Kerry would like to quicken the naturalization process of those serving in the Armed Forces.

Voted NO on allowing more foreign workers into the U.S. for farm work.

Vote to create a national registry containing names of U.S. workers who want to perform temporary or seasonal agricultural work, and to require the Attorney General to allow more foreign workers into the U.S. for farm work under H-2A visas.
Bill S.2260 ; vote number 1998-233 on Jul 23, 1998

Voted NO on visas for skilled workers.
This bill expanded the Visa program for skilled workers.
Status: Bill Passed Y)78; N)20; NV)2
Reference: The American Competitiveness Act; Bill S. 1723 ; vote number 1998-141 on May 18, 1998

Voted NO on limit welfare for immigrants.
This amendment would have restored food stamp benefits to the children of legal immigrants
Status: Motion to Table Agreed to Y)59; N)41
Reference: Motion to table Kennedy Amdt #429; Bill S.947 ; vote number 1997-111 on Jun 24, 1997


Dennis Kucinich

Kucinich is very progressive, Mexico is no exception. He appears to be willing to seek immigration reforms with Mexico and legalize the status of Mexicans workers in the U.S. In addition, Kucinich plans to “cancel NAFTA and the WTO.”

“Welcoming immigrants to our shores is one of our country's vital traditions -- the heart and soul of the American dream. In Congress, Rep. Kucinich has co-sponsored a number of bills to help immigrants, including the Family Unity Legalization Act, which allows those who have been in the country for over five years to legalize their status. Among other legislation in this area: He co-sponsored a bill supportive ofefugees from Columbia and Peru, and a bill helping nationals from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Haiti to become permanent residents.

"A Kucinich administration will honor this welcoming legacy by legalizing the status of hard-working, tax-paying undocumented workers in the U.S. It will clear out the backlog in the naturalization process so that those who are eligible to become citizens can do so without endless delays. It will offer immigrants a clear road map to citizenship, so that they can become fully participating members of our communities. And it will work with our partners in Mexico to regularize the flow of immigrants by forging an agreement on migration.”
(Kucinich for president homepage)

Extend our arms to world-immigrant amnesty and more
Q: Is it realistic to think that, in the environment after 9/11, that we could legalize undocumented immigrants in this country?
KUCINICH: One of the tragedies of 9/11 is that we've forgotten who we are as a nation. In the fear that's covered this country, we've forgotten about the optimism and hope that led so many people to sail under that light of Lady Liberty. Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.
America must remember where we came from as a nation. And in doing that, we need to extend our arms once again to the world community and bring those, the tempest-tossed, to the US.

Yes, I'm for amnesty. Yes, I'm for legalization of status. Yes, I'm for broadening citizenship possibilities. Yes, I'm for enforcing the Fair Labor Standards Act and making sure that those workers who come from Mexico have all of the protections of federal law and including universal health care.
Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico Sep 4, 2003

Voted YES on extending Immigrant Residency rules.

Vote on motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill that would extend by four months a law allowing some immigrants to remain in the country while pursuing legal residency.
Reference: Motion sponsoerd by Gekas, R-PA; Bill HR1885 ; vote number 2001-127 on May 21, 2001

Voted NO on more immigrant visas for skilled workers.
Vote to pass a bill to increase the number of temporary visas granted to highly skilled workers from 65,000 to 115,000 by the year 2000.
Reference: Bill introduced by Smith, R-TX.; Bill HR 3736 ; vote number 1998-460 on Sep 24, 1998


Carol Mosely Braun

Immigration is not a key component of Braun’s platform. Mexico and/or immigration is not included under “issues” on her home page
.
Amnesty & driver's licenses for undocumented workers

Q: What about giving undocumented immigrants access to driver's licenses?
BRAUN: I would agree with legalization. Those who live here ought to be able to get driver's license, ought to be able to participate as citizens participate. We need to be normalize our relations with documented, as well as undocumented people who are here in the US. It doesn't matter if you came to this country on the Mayflower or a slave ship, across the Rio Grande or through Ellis Island, we are all in the same boat now
Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico Sep 4, 2003

More federal aid and services for immigrants

Principles Moseley-Braun supports regarding immigration
Increase the eligibility of legal immigrants for certain social programs
Require the INS to reduce to six months the time between applying for citizenship and taking the oath of allegiance
Provide extra federal aid to states with higher numbers of immigrants for necessary medical and social services
Prohibit states from passing laws that deny human services (medical care, education) to illegal immigrants or their children.
Source: 1998 Congressional National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1998

Voted NO on allowing more foreign workers into the U.S. for farm work.

Voted to create a national registry containing names of U.S. workers who want to perform temporary or seasonal agricultural work, and to require the Attorney General to allow more foreign workers into the U.S. for farm work under H-2A visas.
Bill S.2260 ; vote number 1998-233 on Jul 23, 1998

Voted NO on visas for skilled workers.
This bill expanded the Visa program for skilled workers.
Status: Bill Passed Y)78; N)20; NV)2
Reference: The American Competitiveness Act; Bill S. 1723 ; vote number 1998-141 on May 18, 1998

Voted NO on limit welfare for immigrants.
This amendment would have restored food stamp benefits to the children of legal immigrants
Status: Motion to Table Agreed to Y)59; N)41
Reference: Motion to table Kennedy Amdt #429; Bill S.947 ; vote number 1997-111 on Jun 24, 1997


Rev. Al Sharpton

Rev. Al Sharpton appears to be domestically focused. His webpage does not include any issues related to foreign policy, in this case immigration reform.

Current immigration law is discriminatory

"I think if you look at the language discrimination, if you look at the fact some people have voted against even the language training in schools if you look at how immigration laws have been used against Hispanics in the Mexican border, I've been there."
Source: CNN Inside Politics Jan 21, 2003

Immigration system is archaic & biased against Latinos
"Our whole set of immigration laws seems to be biased and archaic. They need to be reviewed and made more humane. I think we need to sit down and have a respectful relationship with Mexico where we deal with them as a partner.

Clearly, Mexicans are treated in a discriminatory manner by this country. We close the borders but allow a few to come here illegally, and turn our heads as long as they agree to be slaves or the closest thing to a slave that you can be. But don't let them come here with any self-respect or ambition. If they agree to wash the dishes in our restaurants or clean our homes or watch our children for the lowest wages imaginable, off the books, then welcome to America. That isn't a foreign policy that will ever work for long. It's time to negotiate real deals with Mexico that benefit both us and them."
Source: Al On America, by Rev. Al Sharpton, p. 72-73 Jan 1, 2002