Supporting Legal Immigration

Securing Our Borders

I am an immigrant — a New American — and I believe strongly in legal immigration. It is precisely because of that belief that I believe our first priority must be to secure our borders against illegal immigration. We must commit the funds necessary to complete a physical barrier along our southern border, and deploy troops to keep America safe from human trafficking, drug smuggling, gun-running and violence.

Make Legal Immigration Easier

I will push for “smart reform” in immigration so that highly skilled workers who wish to become Americans are no longer turned away. I will also support legislation to create a guest worker program for labor-intensive industries. Our doors should also remain open to political asylum-seekers. We should strengthen requirements for U.S. citizenship, giving highest priority to those who serve in our armed forces.

No Amnesty

I will oppose blanket amnesty, which will damage the rule of law and encourage more illegal immigration. If we respect our own laws, so, too will those who seek new freedom and opportunity on our shores. For those who are in the country illegally and have committed no further crimes, we should require an admission of guilt fine and offer the choice of joining a guest worker program that precludes permanent residency, or going “to the back of the line,” behind legal immigrants, and starting the process over.