Hillary Clinton on Immigration:
She Opens the Doors for Illegals (and their families)!

Summary:
Sen. Hillary Clinton not only wants to create a pathway to citizenship for the illegal aliens who are already here in the United States but she also wants to allow their families to come over too. In a 2007 Democratic primary debate aired in Spanish she wrongly equates the current immigration struggle, both legal and illegal, with the families who came over to the United States through Ellis Island.

To her credit, Hillary Clinton has called for crackdowns on employers who exploit undocumented workers and additional border patrolling including a border fence. However, Sen. Clinton has justified Sanctuary Cities, voted for the McCain-Kennedy Comprehensive Immigration (Amnesty) Reform, voted against declaring English as the official language, and supports Social Security for Illegal aliens. Based upon her record, Hillary Clinton is not a friend to a Secure America or real immigration reform.

Skip Links to Content Below:

On Amnesty-- Supports
On Sanctuary Cities-- Supports
Families of Illegal Aliens-- Supports Amnesty for All!
Social Security for Illegals-- Supports
English as the Official Language-- Opposes
Guest-Worker Amnesty-- Supports
Border Fence-- Opposes  NEW
2007 Amnesty Bills-- Supports
Legal Immigration-- Supports
Website Platform

Amnesty: Supports

• When asked , "Would you offer a form of amnesty for illegal aliens?"
• Clinton answered: I'm in favor of comprehensive immigration reform, which includes tightening our border security, sanctioning employers to employ undocumented immigrants, getting the 12 million or so immigrants out of the shadows. That's very important to me. After 9/11, we've got to know who's in this country. And then giving them a chance to pay a fine, pay back taxes, learn English & stand in line to be eligible for a legal status in this country. (South Carolina Democratic Primary, on MSNBC 4.25.2007)

Sanctuary Cities: Supports

• Q: But you would allow the sanctuary cities to disobey the federal law?
• A: Well, I don't think there is any choice. The local police chief trying to solve a crime might know people from the immigrant community have information about it, but they may not talk to you if they think you're also going to be enforcing the immigration laws. Local law enforcement has a different job than federal immigration enforcement. The problem is the federal government has totally abdicated its responsibility. (2007 Democratic Primary Debate at Dartmouth College,9.6.2007)

Families of Illegal Aliens: Give Them Amnesty

• Q: Would you commit to immigration reform during your first year of the presidency?
• A: Absolutely. And I think there are three different aspects of this .We do need to work with the Congress to get legislation that is comprehensive. I am proud to work with Sen. Menendez on trying to make sure that in the process of doing immigration reform, we don't separate families, we try to have family unification as one of the goals. So in addition to giving people a path to legalization, we want to make sure their families can come along with them.

Social Security for Illegal Aliens: Supports

• Voted Yes on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security.
• Sen. Clinton supports an open border stance according to the U.S. Border Control
• In Nevada she stated that "No woman is illegal!"
• http://www.lvrj.com/news/13702902.html

English as Official Language: Opposes

• Voted NO on declaring English as the official language of the US government.
• Polls currently show that 91% of the U.S. want English as the official language, and 76% of Hispanics advocate English as the official language.
• Voted on Senate floor in favor of amendment to expand chain migration in 2007 (SA 1183 to S.1348)
• English should remain the unifying U.S. language but making English the official language is discriminating gainst those who do no speak English.

Guest-Worker Amnesty: Supports

• Voted in favor of the guest-worker amnesty bill of S.1348 which grants amnesty and authorizes the importation of millions of new foreign workers.

Border Fence: Opposed

• Senator Clintion voted for the Secure Fence Act of 2006 but now believes the act is not the solution.
• Voted on Senate floor against Cloture of HR6061 -- the Secure Fence Act of 2006 (A Cloture would end the debate and requre Senators to vote)
• Voted YEA on Senate floor in favor of HR6061 -- the Secure Fence Act of 2006
• Voted in favor of border amendment to kill the border fence in 2006 (SA 4188 to S. 2611 would require consultation with Mexico concerning the construction of the fence)
• Click here for Senate Roll Call Vote
• Sen. Clinton along with Sen. Barack Obama agreed Thursday night at the CNN Debate (2.21.08), that the Secure Fence Act of 2006 Should not  be enforced as written. 
• Has the desire to be deferential to the lives of the people living on the border stating, "There may be limited places where it would work. But let's deploy more technology and personnel, instead of the physical barrier."
• Believes that the Bush administration is being too aggressive and absurd in pushing to build the border fence as mandated by the Secure Fence Act. 
• CNN's John King asked, As president "would you commit tonight that you would finish the fence and speed up the construction?"
  
• Senator Clinton replied, "This is the kind of absurdity we are getting from this[the Bush] administration...The Bush administration has gone off of the deep end, and they are unfortunately coming up with a plan that I think is counterproductive."
• "There are places when after a careful review, again listening to the people who live along the border, there may be limited place where it would work... But let's deploy more technology and personnel, instead of the physical barrier."
• For Debate Transcript Go Here 

• Voted in favor of the DREAM ACT in 2007 which reward illegal aliens with amnesty
• Voted on Senate Floor against an amendment to bar certain criminals from U.S. in 2007( SA 1184 to S.1385). Certain criminals included absconders, alien security risks, sex offenders, gang members, and other domestic violence offenders
• Co-sponsored the AgJobs Bill 2007 (S.340). Bill would create an amnesty for illegal agricultural workers.

Legal Immigration: Supports

Hillary has advocated for policies to help smooth the transition of legal immigrants once they arrive in the U.S. so that they can add to our economy and culture.

• She championed the Legal Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act, which would give states the option to provide federally funded Medicaid and SCHIP benefits to low-income legal immigrant children and pregnant women.
• She wrote the Access to Employment and English Acquisition Act to meet the growing demand for English language courses and other job skills.
• She strongly supports the DREAM Act, which provides a path to citizenship through military service or higher education for children who were brought to the U.S. by their parents.
• She offered an amendment to make family reunification the guiding principle of our immigration system. See More Here
• Click here for other source material

Website Platform

Our immigration system is in crisis. The laws we currently have on the books are inadequate and no longer serve our best interests. As a nation, we place a premium on compassion, respect, and policies that help families, but our immigration laws don't reflect that.

Hillary has consistently called for comprehensive immigration reform that respects our immigrant heritage and honors the rule of law. She believes comprehensive reform must have as essential ingredients a strengthening of our borders, greater cross-cooperation with our neighbors, strict but fair enforcement of our laws, federal assistance to our state and local governments, strict penalties for those who exploit undocumented workers, and a path to earned legal status for those who are here, working hard, paying taxes, respecting the law, and willing to meet a high bar.