A spectacle of the candidates on immigration

(Gettyimages/stockphoto)

By: Oliver Goldman

Silver Spring, Md. -- Immigration is a crucial question heading forward in American politics. The question is sure to be at the top of the list when it comes to voters’ concerns looking to be answered at the ballot box on June 11th.

The Trump administration certainly hasn’t done anything to mend the divide as far as the immigration dilemma. Trump and his decision making have essentially left Mexico and Central American countries no other option than to engage in talks over immigration.

Trump has introduced a series of aggressive trade policies in an attempt to force Mexico and Central American countries to do more to curb illegal immigration into the United States.

Trump has touted steeply ramped up tariffs on all Mexican imports if Mexico fails to substantially halt illegal immigration in timely fashion. Couple these proposed tariffs with Trump’s ongoing squabble with Congress over funding for a border wall, and it’s clear that there are many questions pertaining to the Southern Border that need to be answered during the next administration.

The Daily Direction talked to the candidates on the fateful issue. Here’s what they had to say:

Tim Scott, the 53-year-old junior Senator from South Carolina running as the Republican on the 2020 ticket, has been outspoken in his support for President Trump’s immigration policy agenda, but had little to actually say about the issue during the spectacle. The campaign did issue a brief statement about Scott’s immigration policy agenda:

“We want to follow in the steps of Canada and Australia and emphasize a merit-based system for immigration. We want to make sure that people are legally able to enter our country who will provide benefits for our economy and country as a whole,” said a spokeswoman for the campaign.

On the other side of the spectrum, a spokesman for the Elizabeth Warren campaign expressed dissatisfaction over the current President’s approach to immigration. The 69-year-old senior Senator from Massachusetts running as the Democratic nominee feels that “Trump’s merit-based immigration plan is ineffective and divides people at the border.” She is suggesting instead a more “comprehensive approach that allows for a more reliable pathway to citizenship.”

Warren hopes to expand “the opportunities that America presents” to more immigrants, but the specific prongs of a so-called ‘comprehensive approach’ weren’t explored in the sit-down with members of the campaign.

Pete Buttigieg, the 37-year-old Mayor of South Bend, Indiana and third-party hopeful, also expressed dissatisfaction with President Trump’s recent emboldened policy moves. “I don’t feel like [the plan] is very honest,” he said. The openly gay millennial went even further, saying that he is “very against [Trump’s] plans with immigration, and with his [very problematic] Muslim ban.” Buttigieg then elaborated on the merit-based system proposal, which he called “drenched in racism and prejudice,” and suggested that we “keep our American ideals” and not lose hold of them in a fight against immoral Republican rhetoric.

Immigration seems to be an issue that will divide voters on party lines at the polls, with Republican candidate Tim Scott favoring a crackdown approach, Democrat Elizabeth Warren running on expansive, increased immigration platform, and proclaimed Progressive Pete Buttigieg running on a reformist platform similar to Warren’s. Warren and Buttigieg face the challenging question of how to distinguish themselves in liberal circles. Immigration is one pressing area where there will have to be some separation as far as proposed policy fixes given by the two candidates.

To this point, though, none of the three candidates in the race for the White House have clearly articulated true policy fixes to immigration. An opportunity to seize early control over a crucial, groundbreaking issue remains untouched.