Immigration is one of the most debated and crucial issues in the 2024 US presidential election. This issue not only affects the economy and national security, but also the identity and fundamental values of the country. For decades, immigration policy has been a polarizing issue, with positions varying widely among parties and candidates.
In the context of the current electoral campaign, immigration continues to be a major issue, with direct implications for the lives of millions of people, both inside and outside the United States. The decisions made in this area will determine not only the fate of immigrants seeking a better life in the United States, but also the country's international perception and its role in protecting human rights and promoting opportunities.
Each presidential candidate has their own vision and strategy for addressing immigration. Some focus on border security and restricting illegal immigration, while others promote broader and more humane legal pathways for immigrants. These differences reflect not only the candidates' distinct political philosophies and priorities, but also their responses to the country's complex social and economic realities.
In this article, we compare the immigration positions and policies of the leading candidates for the 2024 United States presidency.
Republican Party: Donald Trump
During his first term in 2016, Donald Trump enacted sweeping anti-immigration policies, such as expanding the border wall, separating immigrant families and migrant children from their parents, and travel bans from Muslim-majority countries.
To the surprise of no one, Trump has made immigration a central theme of his 2024 presidential campaign, promising the largest deportation and border arrest programs in US history. If elected, Trump plans to order law enforcement and the National Guard to conduct raids and deport millions of undocumented immigrants. He also plans to expel them from the United States without due process hearings.
The Republican presidential candidate has publicly stated that he would try to deport up to 20 million people if reelected.
Donald Trump has also stated that he wants to ignore the 14th Amendment and revoke birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants.
Furthermore, he said he would expand a program from his first term that would strip citizenship from naturalized immigrants determined to be criminals, terrorists, or “immigration cheats.”.
In its first term, the Trump administration also forced asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while awaiting hearings.
Democratic Party
Kamala Harris
Current Vice President Kamala Harris, during Joe Biden's presidency, has tried to balance reinforcing border security with creating a “secure, orderly, and humane” immigration system. During her term, she has worked to limit illegal crossings at the southern border and expand legal pathways for immigrants from countries such as Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua. She also admitted Ukrainians under a similar program.
Although he reversed many of the Trump administration's policies, additional sections of the border wall have been built using Trump-era funds. It was said that there was no other choice due to the fact that Congress had allocated money for the project.
Recently, the administration to which you belong signed an Executive Order to restrict the entry of undocumented immigrants into the country and make it harder to obtain asylum, in order to curb the number of immigrants crossing the US-Mexico border. This was the most restrictive border policy enacted by a modern Democratic president.
The Biden administration also approved a measure allowing spouses and children under 21 of U.S. citizens to obtain permanent residency without leaving the United States. These protections will prevent hundreds of thousands of people from being deported and will provide a pathway to citizenship. In addition, it will facilitate the processing of work visas for young people with a U.S. college degree who have a job offer in their field of study. This includes DACA recipients and other Dreamers.
Marianne Williamson
Marianne Williamson advocates for a path to citizenship for all immigrants who have not violated major laws, and for the expansion of the number of approved visas. In addition, she plans to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and establish an Office of Citizenship, Refugee, and Immigration Services to provide housing, healthcare, and other resources to migrants.
Independent Candidates
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Independent)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. views the situation at the southern border as a humanitarian crisis and proposes securing the border to end illegal immigration while expanding the U.S. legal immigration system. His campaign has called this “high walls, wide gates.” His approach focuses first on controlling the border and then working with other countries to manage migratory flows. He also plans to fund and prioritize immigration infrastructure, including court services and border agencies.
Cornel West (Independent)
Cornel West proposes transforming immigration policies to create a broad legal pathway to residency in the United States. He also advocates for the abolition of ICE and the reduction of backlogs faced by immigrants seeking legal residency. West would allow asylum seekers to enter without delay or prejudice and would prohibit the separation of families at the U.S. borders.
Jill Stein (Green Party)
While Jill Stein's campaign has not specified her current immigration priorities, in 2016 she supported a broader pathway to citizenship for immigrants and criticized various US policies that she claimed contributed to the migration crisis. She also criticized agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, which has been replaced under the Trump administration.
The diversity of approaches and proposals regarding immigration underscores the importance of this issue in shaping the future of the United States. As voters prepare to elect their next president, it is essential that they understand the differences between the candidates and how each plans to address the challenges and opportunities associated with immigration.
While we cannot know for sure what a new administration might bring, we do know that the best way to protect yourself if you are currently undocumented in the United States is to fix your papers and secure your legal status. Call Eagan Immigration today at 202-709-6439 for a free case evaluation or schedule an appointment at this link: Schedule Appointment with Eagan Immigration (as.me)