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John Edwards on Immigration
"I think [immigrants] ought to be allowed to earn American citizenship. Now I use the word, "earn" because I mean earn. I think if they came here illegally, then they ought to have to pay a fine. Another one thats a little more controversial is, but I believe it, is I think they ought to have to learn to speak English. I would allow a path for them to be able to earn American citizenship, and I think you have to do all these things together, not just one part of it."
"We're going to ensure that every single person living in the United States of America has a completely achievable path to American citizenship so that they don't live in the shadows."
"We should reform the immigration system so there is a clear road map to legalization and citizenship for undocumented immigrants who work hard and follow the law. At the same time, we should work with our ally, Mexico, to better control the border and stop illegal trafficking."
Associated Press policy Q&A, "Immigration" Jan 25, 2004
'This is not rocket science,' he said, and he said blocking the border is not the answer. He said illegal immigrants should pay fines, learn to speak English and be offered paths to citizenship.
[Edwards] supports legal status and citizenship for some illegal immigrants.
"There has to be a clear path to earned citizenship, which should include requirements to learn to speak English, and payment of a fine. My concern about the immigration bill that’s being considered right now, and my great friend and a man I have huge admiration for, Senator Kennedy, is very involved in this, is that the path to citizenship, from my perspective, is too difficult, and will be really difficult for a lot of people to achieve."
I oppose...guest worker programs that fail to include a real path to citizenship. America is a land of equals, not a land of first-class citizens and second-class laborers. If we invite you to work in America, we invite you to become an American with all the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
I just don't think we want to live in a country where we have millions of people who are working as guest workers or living as second-class people. It's just not the nature of who we are, as a moral issue.
I have some real concerns about parts of this bill, including the poorly conceived guest worker program.
I think our southern border is a mess. I am not for building a fence all the way across our southern border. I think we need to be much tougher on employees who are knowingly violating the law, he said. "I don't want to live in a country -- this is a moral issue for me -- I don't want to live in a country made up of first-class citizens and second-class workers. I just don't think that is right.
On the issue of immigration, Edwards said the United States needs to secure its southern border. He does not support fencing the entire border but could support a fence in certain areas.
Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards says building a fence all along the southern border of the U.S. is 'crazy.' Edwards says there are some "isolated places" where a fence might do some good.
No Democrats said they would support a federal crackdown on sanctuary cities at September 26, 2007 debate at Dartmouth College.
The first step is to control our borders and stop illegal trafficking. We also need to crack down on employers that hire undocumented immigrants. At the same time, it is unrealistic to think that we can deport more than 12 million people.
Campaign website, www.johnedwards.com, "Issues" Sep 1, 2007
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I want you to raise your hand if you believe English should be the official language of the United States (Edwards does not raise his hand)