 CAMPAIGN 2000
We are only weeks away from the New Hampshire primary and Iowa caucus, the first major tests in the 2000 presidential race. In the coming months, we will be reporting regularly on how immigration issues are dealt with by the candidates. As the race heats up, we thought it might be useful to summarize the positions of the major presidential candidates on immigration related issues: DEMOCRATS: - Bill Bradley, former Senator from New Jersey – has voted in favor of public assistance for legal immigrants and against it for undocumented immigrants. Has sponsored legislation calling for tougher enforcement of immigration laws. Bradley’s wife is a German immigrant herself and has been very vocal in favor of open immigration policies.
- Albert Gore, Vice-President – favors bilingual education, supports public assistance for legal immigrants; Gore will also no doubt be linked to the Clinton Administration’s policies including signing the 1996 immigration acts. Those laws have been harshly criticized by the pro-immigration community. Furthermore, Clinton dragged his feet on raising the H-1B cap in 1998 and has not come out in favor of any of the new bills to remedy the worsening H-1B problem.
REPUBLICANS - George W. Bush, Governor of Texas – wants to increase available visas for skilled workers, and expand programs for temporary farm and service workers. Bush has been highly popular in with Hispanic votes in Texas and has argued in favor of applying the principals of “compassionate conservatism” to the immigration policy debate.
- John McCain, Senator from Arizona – would increase access of legal immigrants to some forms of public assistance. Does not favor eliminating all social services for undocumented immigrants. McCain is the sponsor of a bill to raise the H-1B cap.
REFORM - Pat Buchanan, political commentator – would reduce legal immigration to 250,000-300,000 a year and conduct a “national campaign of assimilation” for immigrants, including English language skills. Would deny all government benefits to undocumented immigrants and erect barriers along the Mexican border; Buchanan is widely considered the most anti-immigrant presidential candidate not only in this election, but also in the last several decades.
- Donald Trump, real estate developer – would dramatically reduce legal immigration; has said little else.
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