Immigration Issue

Joe Biden
Biden voted for a guest-worker program that would enable illegal immigrants who have lived and worked in the United States for five years to apply for permanent resident status. Biden also voted for a bill authorizing construction of a 700-mile (1127-kilometer) fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Hillary Clinton
Clinton supported legislation that would allow some illegal immigrants to apply for permanent resident status. Clinton also voted for a bill to build a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Chris Dodd
Dodd has called for stronger penalties on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. He also voted to authorize construction of a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.

John Edwards
Edwards says the first step in immigration reform is to control U.S. borders and stop illegal trafficking. He supports giving illegal immigrants in the United States an opportunity to pay a fine and learn English to earn American citizenship.

Rudy Giuliani
Giuliani says that immigrants interested in becoming U.S. citizens should learn English. He supports establishing an identification system to verify immigrants' legal status.

Mike Gravel
Gravel supports a guest-worker program and naturalization procedure that will enable some illegal immigrants to obtain legal status. He also cite the North American Free Trade Agreement as a root cause of illegal immigration.

Mike Huckabee
Huckabee says his Number 1 priority is to secure America's borders and those who are caught trying to enter the United States illegally must be deported. He says that illegal immigrants who commit crimes in the United States must be arrested and prosecuted or deported.

Duncan Hunter
Hunter authored the Secure Fence Act, which would extend the border fence 1,375 kilometers across California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Hunter says his experience on this issue in San Diego has shown that "building fences in strategic locations along our international borders is a proven method of keeping America safe."

Dennis Kucinich
Kucinich voted against authorizing construction of a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border. He supports creating a pathway for legalization for some illegal immigrants.

John McCain
McCain says it is important for immigrants to learn English, American history and civics. He believes an important part of addressing immigration issues is to build strong alliances with Mexico and Latin American countries that support democracy and work to provide economic opportunities for their citizens.

Barack Obama
Obama proposed legislation that would create a new employment eligibility system with which companies could verify that their employees are legal residents. Obama supports allowing illegal immigrants in the United States who have not committed crimes to pay a fine and learn English to stay in the United States.

Ron Paul
Ron Paul has a six-point plan for immigration and border security that includes deporting those who overstay their visas. Paul has called for eliminating the birthright citizenship that is granted to children born in the United States if their parents are illegal immigrants.

Bill Richardson
Richardson believes that illegal immigrants who pass a background check, learn English and pay back taxes and fines should be granted legal status, while those who do not must leave. He says the number of legal immigrants allowed into the United States annually should be based on the needs of the U.S. economy.

Mitt Romney
Romney says the United States must reform current immigration laws so it can secure its borders and implement an employment verification system. He has called for illegal immigrants to register with the U.S. government in order to determine who should be granted work visas and who should be asked to leave.

Fred Thompson
Since the September 11, 2001, attacks, Thompson says, immigration has become a national security issue. Thompson is opposed to amnesty for illegal immigrants and has called for a review of immigration laws and policies to ensure that they advance U.S. interests.