We’re counting down the days until the election on Nov. 6 – and today we’re focused on the presidential candidates’ positions on fair immigration policy.
When it comes to torches on our ACLU Liberty Watch 2012 Report Card, Governor Romney has zero, President Obama has two, and Governor Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate, has three. Want to know why? Check out their records
here.
The candidates were also asked about immigration policy during the second presidential debate. During the Oct. 16 town hall at Hofstra University, a questioner
asked, “[W]hat do you plan on doing with immigrants without their green cards that are currently living here as productive members of society?”
Romney said he would “put in place an employment verification system and make sure employers that hire people who have come here illegally are sanctioned for doing so. I won't put in place magnets for people coming here illegally, so for instance, I would not give driver's licenses to those that have come here illegally.” He added that he believes kids who came to the U.S. illegally “should have a pathway to become…a permanent resident,” through “military service, for instance.”
Obama, who this summer gave certain young undocumented immigrants a renewable two-year deportation reprieve and a permit to work legally, talked about beefing up the border and chastised Romney for prior comments about promising to veto the DREAM Act.
The fundamental constitutional protections of due process and equal protection embodied in our Constitution apply to every person – not just citizens.
When the government has the power to deny legal rights and due process to one group, everyone’s rights are at risk.
