Senate candidates’ stances on U.S. immigration issues

In preparation for the May 4 Democratic primary, which will decide who challenges incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, The Daily Tar Heel will present the following Democratic candidates’ stances on key political issues, as well as Burr’s. Burr was first elected to the office in 2004, and this is his first time up for re-election. The Daily Tar Heel has opted to include only the frontrunners in the Democratic race.
 

Ken Lewis (D)
Attorney, Durham

-Supports passage of the DREAM Act, which would provide paths to citizenship for some undocumented students.

-Supports creation of labor force commission which would monitor immigrant labor and make recommendations to U.S. Congress on the number of new visas authorize Afghanistan using a counterinsurgency strategy.

-Supports increasing border security.

Cal Cunningham (D)
former N.C. senator, Lexington

-The Cunningham campaign could not be reached for comment.

Elaine Marshall (D)
N.C. Secretary of State, Raleigh

-Supports increasing border security before addressing other issues, such as amnesty and deportation.

-Supports reforming the guest worker program.

Richard Burr(R)
U.S. senator, Winston-Salem

-Does not support passage of the DREAM Act, which would provide paths to citizenship for some undocumented students.

-Voted against the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 that included provisions to:

-Increase border security, including the use of biometric technology at designated border entry points.

-Grant amnesty to undocumented immigrants who have been in the U.S. for more than five years technology at designated border entry points.

-Create a guest worker program allowing immigrants to remain in the U.S. for up to six years, after which the worker would be required to spend one year in their home country.