PRESIDENTIAL IMMIGRATION VOTER GUIDE
ON FOREIGN WORKER & ENFORCEMENT POLICIES
Updated: 09/01/16

Overall Assessment
➙
Mandate E-Verify to
block jobs magnet for
illegal immigration?
block jobs magnet for
illegal immigration?
Approx. 7 million illegal foreign workers hold non-farm jobs in construction, manufacturing, hospitality and other service occupations. Mandatory E-Verify (electronic verification) -- including special provisions to deal with identity theft -- would block most illegal workers from payroll jobs. This would open most of those jobs to be filled from the nearly 60 million working-age Americans and legal immigrants already here who are not working. The Americans who would benefit the most are those with lower skills and educational levels similar to that of the illegal workers. Instead of depending on government benefits, charities and family, these currently non-working Americans would begin to support themselves.
Work permits to
11 million current
illegal overstays &
border crossers?
11 million current
illegal overstays &
border crossers?
The key action in every effort for "comprehensive immigration reform" or other form of amnesty has been to immediately give work permits to the illegal population. The question for every elected official is whether they favor allowing employers to legally hire illegal border crossers and visa overstays ahead of jobless Americans.
Lifetime work visas given
by lottery & extended
family chain migration?
by lottery & extended
family chain migration?
The visa lottery and extended family chain migration categories add hundreds of thousands of permanent immigrants each year. Each gets life-time work authorization, with no regard to their skills and whether there are jobs that need their skill and labor, or how they would affect Americans with similar skills and education. These categories were not traditionally part of our immigration system. The lottery is restricted to people in countries with the least historic connections with the United States. Chain migration allows immigrants to bring in not only their spouse and minor children but also to petition for their adult children, brothers, sisters, and parents, with each of them able to do the same, resulting in petitions for the original immigrant's aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, plus in-laws and cousins of all kinds in unending chains.
Lifetime work visas to
refugees and asylees?
refugees and asylees?
Because most refugees compete for jobs with America's most vulnerable citizens, it is important that every refugee admission is free of fraud and security risk and that there not be other effective options less harmful to economically vulnerable Americans. With tens of millions of refugees and displaced persons in the world, it can be easy to overload local communities with larger and larger levels of resettlement while making no dent in the total challenge, which can ultimately be met only in the home regions of those needing help.
Higher-skill worker visas?
The presence of higher-skilled foreign workers in larger numbers can depress the wages and decrease employment of Americans in the same occupations. Higher-skill immigration can make it more difficult for older, experienced American workers to retain their jobs or gain new employment. More difficult for American students to begin their careers, while discouraging younger Americans from pursuing education for those careers. Government investigations have found visa programs for higher-skilled foreign workers to be full of fraud and abuse by employers.
Lower-skill worker visas?
The highest levels of non-work are found among Americans with lower skill levels. There simply are not enough lower-skilled jobs for the number of lower-skilled Americans. The presence of large numbers of low-skilled foreign workers creates pressure for even lower wages and higher unemployment for workers who already may have poverty and near-poverty incomes.
More fencing & other
border efforts to
control flow of
illegal workers?
border efforts to
control flow of
illegal workers?
Around half of the foreign citizens who illegally hold U.S. jobs crossed our borders illegally. The flows declined during the recession but have grown steadily the last couple of years. Several border control measures signed into law have not been implemented.
Reduce visa-overstay
workers with biometric
entry/exit system?
workers with biometric
entry/exit system?
Successive Presidents have refused to implement the law requiring a computerized, bio-metric check-in/check-out system for foreign citizens entering the U.S. Without a system to track every foreign citizen who enters the U.S. by air, sea or land, our government has little idea whether the more than 40 million foreign visitors a year are living up to the promises they made in obtaining their temporary visas. These visitors account for nearly half of the illegal foreign workers taking jobs from Americans.
Birthright citizenship
for legal & illegal
foreign visitors?
for legal & illegal
foreign visitors?
Hundreds of thousands of foreign citizens are given lifetime U.S. work visas every year through the practice of granting automatic citizenship to every birth to a tourist, visiting student, temporary worker or illegal alien. Although they obviously don't immediately begin competing for jobs, they eventually do. In the short-term, these children of foreign citizens harm American workers because they are used to excuse their parents' illegal presence here, allowing many to continue to illegally hold U.S. jobs and creating pressure to give the parents amnesty and lifetime work permits to compete with any American for any job.
Local sanctuary policies
that protect ability of
illegal foreign visitors to
remain for jobs, even
with criminal records?
that protect ability of
illegal foreign visitors to
remain for jobs, even
with criminal records?
Many of the millions of illegal workers have been rewarded and encouraged to stay in the U.S. because of sanctuary policies of some states and many cities that refuse to cooperate with immigration officials and that provide in-state tuition, driver's licenses and other benefits to illegal workers. Successive presidents have refused to use tools provided by Congress to stop sanctuary practices by cutting federal grants.

Donald
Trump (REP)
Tell Donald Trump he can do
better on immigration:
Champions FEWER Foreign Workers
Champions MORE Enforcement
- YES – During Trump's Phoneix, AZ speech in August 2016 he said he would work with Congress to expand E-verify and remove the jobs magnet. Source: http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-donald-trump-immigration-speech-transcript-20160831-snap-htmlstory.html
- Trump's Immigration Plan calls for "Nationwide E-Verify: This simple measure will protect jobs for unemployed Americans." On MSNBC, he said the solution to turning off the jobs magnet is mandatory E-Verify and that "I'm using E-verify (in his company's building projects), and I'm telling you, it works."
- In August 2015, Mr. Trump released his immigration plan that says he supports a nationwide mandate for E-Verify. Source: https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/immigration-reform
- MAYBE LATER – In a September 2016 forum Trump said he would be open to granting amnesty to illegal aliens who plan on joining the military or are currently serving in the U.S. military. “I think that when you serve in the armed forces, that’s a very special situation, and I could see myself working that out, absolutely...I think the military is a very special thing, if they plan on serving, if they get in, I would absolutely hold those people..We have to vet very carefully, I think everybody would agree with that, but the answer would that it would be a very special circumstance, yes." Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yNVAx68FB0
- During Trump's Phoneix, AZ speech in August 2016 he said he would deal with the illegal aliens that are currently in the U.S. after enforcement has been implemented. "Importantly, in several years when we have accomplished all of our enforcement and deportation goals and truly ended illegal immigration for good... And the establishment of our new lawful immigration system then and only then will we be in a position to consider the appropriate disposition of those individuals who remain." Source: http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-donald-trump-immigration-speech-transcript-20160831-snap-htmlstory.html
- Trump's positions have changed several times. Last year, he proposed the idea of a mass deportation but largely dropped the talk this year. In August, he stated that only criminal aliens will be aggressively deported, while other illegal aliens will be subjected to routine enforcement of the law. On CNN, he returned to a theme he sometimes used in 2015 that "good" illegal aliens (perhaps just the ones who've been in the U.S. a long time) could return to their home country and apply to come back, getting work permits then.
- Trump strongly opposed the 2013 Gang of Eight "comprehensive immigration reform" approach that started with the distribution of work permits to illegal residents. However, his talk of mass deportation (mainly last year) often included a promise to let "the good ones" come back and get jobs. In a town hall with Sean Hannity this August, Trump indicated that he would be open to issuing work permits for millions of aliens who had been in the country illegally for more than 15 years, possibly after new enforcement measures are in place. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cblBRiYQYk
- Trump began speaking this August against mass deportation, saying he now promises to aggressively deport criminal aliens and then more routinely enforce the laws on the books with the rest of illegal aliens. This suggests that he would not seek out illegal workers but when they come in contact with enforcement officials the illegal workers would be put into the proceedings required by law but which basically have been ignored by the last few presidents.
- In February 2016, Trump was the first presidential candidate to answer Sen. Session’s five questions on immigration. In response to Sen. Sessions’ question asking if the candidate would immediately terminate Pres. Obama’s executive amnesties, Trump answered, “I will immediately cancel both of President Obama’s illegal executive amnesties, and all other unconstitutional executive orders. After my inauguration, for the first time in decades, Americans will wake up in a country where their immigration laws are enforced.” Source: http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/02/08/exclusive-donald-j-trump-first-candidate-reply-sessions-test/
- In an interview with TMZ in July 2015, Mr. Trump said he would consider giving legal status to some illegal aliens. According to TMZ, "Donald Trump says if he's elected president, he'd let undocumented workers who are productive stay in the United States, but if they just sponge off the system and don't contribute ... he'd have them deported. Trump tells TMZ, he'd create a 'system of merit,' saying people here illegally should have 'a road to legal status' if they work hard and contribute to the country. Trump also says no one really knows how many people are in the U.S. illegally -- he cites different stats that show the figure is somewhere between 11 and 30 million. Trumps says it's unrealistic and inhumane to attempt to deport all of them. Thus, the merit system. He says many undocumented workers are 'hardworking people' who deserve a chance to live the American dream. The candidate was not specific about the criteria for being 'productive,' but he was specific that people who don't pay their freight over a period of time have no place here. He also believes criminals and other 'bad ones' should be thrown out." Source: http://www.tmz.com/2015/06/27/donald-trump-deportation-welfare-illegal-mexico-presidential-candidate/#ixzz3fsjXd3ht
- But after his comments on MSNBC and to TMZ, Mr. Trump offered more details of his plan on Sean Hannity's Fox News program in July 2015. "I would get them back, I would get them back where they are, and I would try to work out a process where they can come in legally. But, they have to come in legally, it's about laws, it's about borders. If we don't have a border, we don't have a country. So, I get them out, and if they were really outstanding, because some of these people have been here for a long period of time, I'd let them back legally." Source: http://video.foxnews.com/v/4379276879001/donald-trump-on-why-his-message-resonates-with-voters/?#sp=show-clips
- PROBABLY LESS – During Trump's Phoneix, AZ speech in August 2016 he said we need an immigration system that serves America's needs. "We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.To choose immigrants based on merit. Merit, skill, and proficiency." Source: http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-donald-trump-immigration-speech-transcript-20160831-snap-htmlstory.html
- Trump has called for a reduction in the overall level of immigration to make it easier for jobless Americans to find work. Nearly all plans for reductions in the past have included an end to the lottery and chain migration, but he has not specifically talked about what he would do with those two categories.
- Donald Trump has not addressed the visa lottery or chain migration. However, he has stated a desire to reduce immigration levels to help American workers and most plans to reduce immigration levels eliminate the visa lottery and restrict chain migration to nuclear family members.
- LESS – During Trump's Phoneix, AZ speech in August 2016 he advocated for creating safe zones for refugees instead of resettling them in the U.S. "For the price of resettling, one refugee in the United States, 12 could be resettled in a safe zone in their home region. Which I agree with 100 percent. We have to build safe zones" Source: http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-donald-trump-immigration-speech-transcript-20160831-snap-htmlstory.html
- Trump's immigration plan on his campaign website calls for an increase in "standards for the admission of refugees and asylum-seekers to crack down on abuses." He has called for a halt in refugee resettlement from the Mideast and other countries with terrorist activity until security can be assured. Source: https://assets.donaldjtrump.com/Immigration-Reform-Trump.pdf
- Donald Trump, during a February 2016 Republican presidential debate, advocated against allowing Syrian refugees to enter the United States. Instead, he supports setting up safe zones in Syria: "We have no documentation whatsoever. There's absolutely no way of saying where these people come from.... You look at it and you say we have enough problems. I have a bigger heart than anybody in this room. We take an area in Syria ... and we build a safe zone." Source: http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/08/politics/donald-trump-syria-refugee-crisis/
Trump
- MAYBE LESS – Trump is inconsistent. He supports raising the prevailing wage for H-1B visa holders, which will probably result in fewer high skilled visas being issued, but he has periodically made public statements that Silicon Valley needs more foreign workers and will have its needs met.
- Donald Trump's campaign website issued the following statement on March 3, 2016: "The H-1B program is neither high-skilled nor immigration: these are temporary foreign workers, imported from abroad, for the explicit purpose of substituting for American workers at lower pay. I remain totally committed to eliminating rampant, widespread H-1B abuse and ending outrageous practices such as those that occurred at Disney in Florida when Americans were forced to train their foreign replacements. I will end forever the use of the H-1B as a cheap labor program, and institute an absolute requirement to hire American workers first for every visa and immigration program. No exceptions." Source: https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/donald-j.-trump-position-on-visas
- The previous statement was released after a Republican presidential debate, where he said: "I'm changing. I'm changing. We need highly skilled people in this country, and if we can't do it, we'll get them in. But, and we do need in Silicon Valley, we absolutely have to have. So, we do need highly skilled, and one of the biggest problems we have is people go to the best colleges. They'll go to Harvard, they'll go to Stanford, they'll go to Wharton, as soon as they're finished they'll get shoved out. They want to stay in this country. They want to stay here desperately, they're not able to stay here. For that purpose, we absolutely have to be able to keep the brain power in this country.... I'm softening the position because we have to have talented people in this country." Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/03/03/the-fox-news-gop-debate-transcript-annotated/
- Donald Trump's immigration plan states: "We graduate two times more Americans with STEM degrees each year than find STEM jobs, yet as much as two-thirds of entry-level hiring for IT jobs is accomplished through the H-1B program. More than half of H-1B visas are issued for the program's lowest allowable wage level, and more than eighty percent for its bottom two. Raising the prevailing wage paid to H-1Bs will force companies to give these coveted entry level jobs to the existing domestic pool of unemployed native and immigrant workers in the U.S., instead of flying in cheaper workers from overseas. This will improve the number of black, Hispanic and female workers in Silicon Valley who have been passed over in favor of the H-1B program." It also states that "too many visas, like the H- 1B, have no such requirement. In the year 2015, with 92 million Americans outside the workforce and incomes collapsing, we need companies to hire from the domestic pool of unemployed. Petitions for workers should be mailed to the unemployment office, not USCIS." Source: https://assets.donaldjtrump.com/Immigration-Reform-Trump.pdf
- PROBABLY LESS – Trump's businesses continue to use lower-skill visas. But he has indicated that all businesses should compete on a level playing field with fewer such workers.
- In his immigration plan, Donald Trump makes it clear that mass immigration is harming lower skilled, less educated Americans: "Decades of disastrous trade deals and immigration policies have destroyed our middle class... The influx of foreign workers holds down salaries, keeps unemployment high, and makes it difficult for poor and working class Americans – including immigrants themselves and their children – to earn a middle class wage...We need to control the admission of new low-earning workers in order to: help wages grow, get teenagers back to work, aid minorities’ rise into the middle class, help schools and communities falling behind, and to ensure our immigrant members of the national family become part of the American dream." Source: https://assets.donaldjtrump.com/Immigration-Reform-Trump.pdf
- In his immigration plan, Trump says he will eliminate the J-1 visa: "The J-1 visa jobs program for foreign youth will be terminated and replaced with a resume bank for inner city youth provided to all corporate subscribers to the J-1 visa program." Trump also states there will be an immigration pause: "Before any new green cards are issued to foreign workers abroad, there will be a pause where employers will have to hire from the domestic pool of unemployed immigrant and native workers. This will help reverse women's plummeting workplace participation rate, grow wages, and allow record immigration levels to subside to more moderate historical averages." Source: https://assets.donaldjtrump.com/Immigration-Reform-Trump.pdf
- YES – Trump has made building a "wall" along the Mexican border a signature issue of his campaign, but he recently has suggested it might not cover every mile of the border. Hi Immigration Plan states: "The cost of building a permanent border wall pales mightily in comparison to what American taxpayers spend every single year on dealing with the fallout of illegal immigration on their communities, schools and unemployment offices." His Plan also says: "Illegal aliens apprehended crossing the border must be detained until they are sent home, no more catch-and-release."
- Donald Trump's immigration plan states: “A nation without borders is not a nation. There must be a wall across the southern border…. Mexico must pay for the wall." His plan also calls for tripling the number of ICE agents. Source: https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/immigration-reform
- Donald Trump's immigration plan states that "all criminal aliens must be returned to their home countries, a process which can be aided by canceling any visas to foreign countries which will not accept their own criminals, and making it a separate and additional crime to commit an offense while here illegally." His plan also calls for an end to President Obama's catch and release policy for dealing with illegal aliens. Source: https://assets.donaldjtrump.com/Immigration-Reform-Trump.pdf
- During an interview on the Hugh Hewitt show in June 2015, Mr. Trump said, “What’s a country? How do you define a country if you don’t have borders? ... So we’re getting a lot of bad people coming in. … We take ’em to all parts of the country. I don’t feel — I know, if we’re going to have a country, we need a border, and we have to have a strong border so illegals aren’t coming in. And that’s illegals from all over the world.” Source: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-criticism-immigration-mexicans-119293.html
- YES – During Trump's Phoneix, AZ speech in August 2016 he said, "we will finally complete the biometric entry-exit visa tracking system which we need desperately. For years Congress has required biometric entry-exit visa tracking systems, but it has never been completed." Source: http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-donald-trump-immigration-speech-transcript-20160831-snap-htmlstory.html
- Trump's immigration plan on his campaign website calls for "enhanced penalities" for overstaying a visa. It also states: "Millions of people come to the United States on temporary visas but refuse to leave, without consequence. This is a threat to national security. Individuals who refuse to leave at the time their visa expires should be subject to criminal penalties. . . . Completion of a visa tracking system – required by law but blocked by lobbyists – will be necessary as well." Source: https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/immigration-reform
- NO – In Trump's 2011 book, he opposed giving lifetime work permits through birthright citizenship to all foreign citizens visiting this country. His Immigration Plan states as one of its goals: "End birthright citizenship. This remains the biggest magnet for illegal immigration."
- Donald Trump's immigration plan calls for for an end to birthright citizenship. “End birthright citizenship. This remains the biggest magnet for illegal immigration. By a 2:1 margin, voters say it’s the wrong policy, including Harry Reid who said “no sane country” would give automatic citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants.” Source: https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/immigration-reform
- During an interview with CNN's Chris Cuomo in August 2015, Trump said that birthright citizenship for illegal aliens is not guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. "No. 1, the 14th Amendment is very questionable as to whether or not somebody can come over, have a baby and immediately that baby is a citizen. OK? Amending is too big a deal. It's going to take -- it'll be two terms. I'd be in my second term or my eighth year by the time -- assuming everything went smoothly. ... I believe you can win it legally." Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/19/politics/donald-trump-chris-cuomo-cnn-interview-immigration/
- NO – During Trump's Phoneix, AZ speech in August 2016 he said, "we will insure that other countries take their people back when they order them deported.There are at least 23 countries that refuse to take their people back after they've been ordered to leave the United States. Including large numbers of violent criminals, they won't take them back. So we say, OK, we'll keep them. Not going to happen with me" Source: http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-donald-trump-immigration-speech-transcript-20160831-snap-htmlstory.html
- Trump's immigration plan on his campaign website states as a goal: "Defund sanctuary cities. Cut-off federal grants to any city which refuses to cooperate with federal law enforcement." He has spoken often of his intention to pursue that goal. Source: https://assets.donaldjtrump.com/Immigration-Reform-Trump.pdf
Trump