Immigration Reform: Democratic Candidate Views For the Next Election

By January 13, 2020Immigration Law Blog
immigration reform

It seems like every politician out there has an opinion on immigration reform, but when it comes time to put reform into action, the results are rarely what they were expected to be. The last few years have seen more than a few errors in judgment when it comes to implementing reform in the U.S. immigration system, so today we’re going to talk a little bit about what you should know about immigration reform as reflected by Democratic presidential candidates for the next election. Don’t worry, our next post will take a look at our Republican candidates!

Immigration Reform: Democratic Candidate Views For the Next Election

The past few years under the Trump Administration have brought many changes to the current immigration system and of those changes, very few have made steps in a positive direction, but what can we expect from the next president in office if we are to take presidential candidates at their word?

Joe Biden

Democrat Joe Biden states on his campaign website that he intends to “humane immigration policy that upholds our values, strengthens our economy, and secures our border.”

Biden strongly objects to the Trump administration’s approach to immigration and believes that splitting up families is not the answer to our immigration system crisis. He believes that the answer lies in getting to the root of the problem.

Biden was a driving force in immigration reform when he served as vice president and he intends on maintaining his humane stance toward immigration reform should he be elected.

Michael Bloomberg

Democrat Michael Bloomberg is the grandson of an immigrant family and founder of the pro-immigration organization New American Economy. He believes that immigrants hold a valuable place in society and while our immigration system does need reformation, that reform should not result in barring immigrants from entering the U.S.

Bloomberg highlights his intentions to recreate the “beacon of freedom” that was once the United States.

Cory Booker

Democrat Cory Booker very openly criticizes the current immigration reform attempts by the Trump administration for being inhumane and anti-American. Much like Bloomberg, Booker holds the opinion that the United States needs to once again become the beacon of freedom that it used to be for immigrant families, treating immigrants with humanity and welcoming them with open arms.

Booker’s campaign website states his four main immigration priorities as the following:

“End family separation and ensure that our immigration system is humane, fair, and respects immigrants’ rights by ending private detention facilities and not treating immigrants who cross our border seeking safety as criminals. Create an asylum process that recognizes the dignity of those who have taken extraordinary risks to seek safe haven in our country. Expand protections for DREAMers and people with Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure. Fight for a pathway to citizenship for the millions of undocumented immigrants living in the United States.”

Pete Buttigieg

Democrat Pete Buttigieg if focusing his view on immigration reform on providing citizenship to those immigrants contributing to our current economy, eliminating the extensive backlog in our current immigration system and the asylum process, and implementing reasonable security precautions at the U.S. border.

Buttigieg emphasizes the fact that immigration policy should be one built on common sense and should take note of the valuable contributions of immigrants to our society.

Tulsi Gabbard

Democrat Tulsi Gabbard acknowledges the extent of “brokenness” in our current immigration system. She is focused on creating human secured borders while also building bridges with foreign nations to create a stronger foreign policy.

Gabbard supports DACA, is firmly against the separation of families at the border, and intends to fund a better system for asylum seekers so that they can find the safety that they are seeking in the U.S.

Amy Klobuchar

Democrat Amy Klobuchar states a need for immigration reform in order for the U.S. to continue moving forward and to improve our own economy. She is in support of the DREAM Act, of improving border security, of eliminating inhumane family separation practices, and of creating a clearer path to earned citizenship to U.S. immigrants.

Klobuchar’s campaign website outlines a plan to pass immigration reform within her first year in office.

Bernie Sanders

Democrat Bernie Sanders supports the creation of a clear way to citizenship for U.S. immigrants, supports DACA, and intends on restructuring the current Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agency. Sanders originally voted against the creation of ICE and while he states no intention to eliminate the agency, he does intend on shaking things up.

Sanders also intends on dismantling the current “inhumane” detention and deportation programs in place and eliminating the practice of family separation.

Tom Steyer

Democrat Tom Steyer is a little less in-depth when it comes to discussing his stance on immigration reform. He has been noted as saying, however, that in order to reform the current immigration system, we need to understand the reasons for mass migration.

Elizabeth Warren

Democrat Elizabeth Warren has not been shy about expressing her disdain for the Trump Administration’s current “discriminatory practices” when it comes to immigration reform. She intends on completely reforming the immigration system if elected by expanding our current legal immigration process, creating cost-effective security solutions at the U.S. borders, and creating a clear and attainable path to citizenship for immigrants.

Warren has already created a six-point proposal for immigration reform which includes decriminalizing immigration and eliminating abusive enforcement.

Andrew Yang

Democrat Andrew Yang states his belief that our current immigration policy “when it works” does a “great job” of integrating “highly-skilled, hard-working, and invested immigrants” into our country, but he admits a need for reform.

Yang’s reform proposal includes securing the southern border to reduce illegal immigration, to create a permanent long-term residency option for those illegal immigrants who have been living in the U.S. for a significant amount of time, and to deport illegal immigrants who do not take advantage of this new residency option.

Have You Been Affected By Current Immigration Reform?

If you are an immigrant who has been affected by current immigration reform and need legal assistance with your immigration status, our team here at Nelson and Associates is here to help! Just give us a call today at 626-683-3451 to see how we can help you!