Government Security News

Immigration and Border Control: Where Pataki
stands on immigration policy
By Elijah Levine
Former Governor George Pataki
Former Republican New York governor
george Pataki recently entered
the 2016 presidential race,
highlighting what his national security
and government reform agenda
would be, but failing to mention
what his policies on immigration
would be as Commander-in-Chief.
However, a quick look into his past
record and public statements on
immigration provide insight into
a policy-maker who took practical
measures to welcome immigrants in
New York and who agreed in principle
with the goal but not the approach
President obama took when
announcing his executive actions
on immigration.
in 2002, when Pataki was
governor, he signed a bill granting
in-state tuition for undocumented
youth at New York public colleges.
This move was a commonsense approach
as New York is home to over
80,000 undocumented children
brought to this country as children,
the fourth highest concentration in
the nation.
in addition he has been a vocal
supporter on the need to reform
our outdated immigration system.
according to Politico:
“Pataki said that it is not realistic
to say the United States will
“send 11 million people back in
railroad cars and buses and trains,”
voicing support for a “pathway to
citizenship at the back of the line”
unless they are members of the military.”
His pragmatic approach goes
back many years. in fact, according
to the New York times, Pataki publicly
opposed California’s controversial
Proposition 187, which was
a restrictive state measure which
would have denied public services
to undocumented immigrants.
While seemingly agreeing
with the idea in principle of finding
solutions to the dilemma of millions
people living in our nation without
proper documentation, Pataki publicly
criticized the President’s executive
action on immigration, which
would defer deportations for up to 4
million immigrants and implement
many critically needed reforms including
initiatives around integration
and visa reform:
“it’s not a question of what you
want to do. it’s what you can do…
i think we do have to have an approach
that provides the ability for
those here illegally to legalize their
status when they’ve obeyed the law,
contributed to america…. But i
don’t think the way the president
did it was right.”
Pataki should continue to
highlight what makes him stand
out from the crowded field of goP
candidates. His record of pursuing
inclusive immigration policies, like
the ones he implemented as governor,
is a great place to start.
Photo by Gage Skidmore
Immigration and Border Control: What you need
to know about Chafee’s immigration record
Lincoln Chafee, a former Republican
Senator (turned Democrat)
and governor from Rhode island
announced presidential bid for the
Democratic nomination for President
of the United States last week.
He joins Hilary Clinton, Martin
o’Malley, and Bernie Sanders in the
race. although Chafee’s initial announcement
focuses in on his opposition
to the war in iraq and how
that differs from the other candidates,
a look back at his record and
public statements on immigration
policy provide some clues into how
he might handle the immigration issue
as commander-in-chief.
as a Senator, Chafee cosponsored
an immigration reform bill in
2005 which included a pathway to
citizenship, as well as border security
measures. in a 2006 gubernatorial
debate, Chafee recalled:
“i co-sponsored the McCain
bill. He came up with a bill, path to
legality but also strong border security.
There was a good compromise.
Bush supports it and others
and that’s the best way to handle
these 11 million illegal immigrants
that are here working illegally in
this country. First, border security.
Second, a path to legality. Pay back
fines. Learn English. get in the back
of the line of the immigration line.
Former Governor Lincoln Chafee
and it’s a big problem. it’s going to
take bipartisan work.”
in 2011, governor, Chafee rescinded
the previous governor’s executive
order which called for local
policy to enforce federal immigration
laws and for employers to participate
in E-Verify.
“My view is that Rhode island
can grow economically by being a
tolerant place to do business… The
immigrant-rich areas, i want to see
them prosper, and they need it.”
Chafee also supported in-state
tuition for young undocumented
immigrants in Rhode island. While
state legislators failed pass the legislation,
the Board of governors for
Higher Education lowered tuition
rates for Rhode island’s immigrant
youth in 2011.
a compassionate and fair approach
to immigration policy seems
to run in the Chafee family. Chafee’s
28 29
father, Senator John Chafee (R-Ri),
was the leading Congressional supporter
of President Ronald Reagan
and george H.W. Bush’s “Family
Fairness” executive actions, the closest
parallel to President obama’s recent
executive actions. Senator John
Chafee sponsored several legislative
provisions to protect the spouses
and children of those able to legalize
under the 1986 immigration reform.
and when President Bush in
1990 took action to protect up to 1.5
million people from deportation,
after Senator Chafee’s proposal had
passed the Senate, the applauded it,
saying “i am delighted, after four
years of hard work, to see this principle
triumph.”
While Chafee does not list immigration
reform as a priority on
his official campaign website, he has
an interesting record and has stood
on the side of problem-solving and
fairness when it comes to reforming
immigration policy.
See more at: http://immigrationimpact.com/2015/06/09/lincolnchafee-immigration/#sthash.KUcOHpbA.dpuf
Photo Courtesy of City Year.