Statement from DNC disagreeing with Ted Cruz’s claims during GOP debate:
Tonight, Ted Cruz said that a majority of candidates on stage have “previously and publicly embraced amnesty.” Call it what you want, but the GOP candidates on stage tonight actively oppose a full and equal path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Instead of supporting immigrant families, the GOP candidates would tear them apart.
Jeb Bush Called Citizenship For Undocumented Immigrants In The United States An “Undeserving Reward.” “Permanent residency in this context, however, should not lead to citizenship. It is absolutely vital to the integrity of our immigration system that actions have consequences—in this case, that those who violated the laws can remain but cannot obtain the cherished fruits of citizenship. To do otherwise would signal once again that people who circumvent the system can still obtain the full benefits of American citizenship… A grant of citizenship is an undeserving reward for conduct that we cannot afford to encourage. [Jeb Bush, Immigration Wars, 3/5/13]
Carly Fiorina Opposed A Path To Citizenship. “Should the government offer immigrants already living in the United States illegally a pathway to citizenship? No. Fiorina, the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, has recently said that she could envision herself supporting a path to legalization for undocumented immigrants—much like Ronald Reagan’s 1986 immigration overhaul—but not to full citizenship. That is consistent what she has said in the past. ‘I do not support amnesty,’ she told CNN in 2010.” [National Journal, 2/23/15]
Rubio On Undocumented Immigrants: “What Do You Do With Millions Of People In This Country Who Are Here Illegally?… We’re Not Going To Award Citizenship To People Or Give Them A Benefit They Wouldn’t Otherwise Have.” “The part that’s difficult is, is what do you do with millions of people in this country who are here illegally? What do you do about it? And I think that the couple of things we’re not going to do — we’re not going to award citizenship to people or give them a benefit they wouldn’t otherwise have. And we’re also not going to round up and deport 12 million people. So the problem with finding a solution between those two different positions is people are not willing to even talk about it until they believe the laws are going to be enforced.” [Simon Conway radio show, 6/2/14; AUDIO]
Walker: If Someone Wants Citizenship, They “Need To Go To The Country Of Origin And Then Get In Line.” “Here is a look at what he said to reporters in Harris County, Texas, based on a March 29, 2015 posting on the Washington Post website: ‘If someone wants to have citizenship they ultimately need to go to the country of origin and then get in line just like anybody else would. There’s benefits when it comes to voting, and other benefits that come with that. In terms of things beyond that, that’s again where we gotta tackle these other issues first and then have a president who’s willing to work with the Congress to figure out a reasonable way going forward…’” [Politifact, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 4/2/15]
Christie Said A Full Path To Citizenship For Undocumented Immigrants Was An “Extreme” Position And “Pandering”—“That’s Not A Thoughtful Position.” “New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie on Thursday slammed Hillary Clinton’s call for a ‘full and equal’ path to citizenship for immigrants living in the United States illegally. ‘I quite frankly think her position is extreme,’ said Christie, who is exploring a possible bid for the presidency, while meeting with supporters at a restaurant here. ‘I think the path to citizenship is a problem for folks who have been waiting the appropriate way to get in, so I think we have to have a much broader conversation than just pandering. We should not just be pandering. We should be talking about this honestly,’ he said…‘Her position now is not really addressing what the country wants to hear about this,’ he said. ‘That’s not a thoughtful position.’” [CNN, 5/7/15]
Washington Post: Rand Paul Introduced An Amendment To The Senate Immigration Bill “That Would Effectively Strip The Bill’s Path To Citizenship.” “Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) introduced an amendment Thursday to the Senate immigration bill that would effectively strip the bill’s path to citizenship and require illegal immigrants to apply through regular channels.” [Washington Post, 6/20/13]
Ted Cruz Sponsored An Amendment That Would Prevent Undocumented Immigrants From Gaining Citizenship. “Cruz 1322: Ensure that illegal immigrants who are given legal status under this bill are not given a path to citizenship. Providing a path to citizenship undermines the rule of law and is an insult to the millions who have immigrated to the U.S. legally. This Amendment prevents those currently here illegally who are offered legal status under this Act from obtaining citizenship.” [Press Release, Office of Senator Cruz, 6/19/13]
