Debate Preview: Where Democratic Presidential Candidates Stand on Immigration

The Democratic presidential candidates will finally have their first primary debate on Oct. 13, and one pressing topic will be immigration reform, but what’s their stance on the multi-faceted topic?

Hillary Clinton:

As the current front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, Clinton will be under an intense spotlight for her immigration reform platforms, which has received a mixed response from immigrant rights advocates.

Clinton, as do all fellow Democratic presidential candidates, have called for Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Clinton said she favors a pathway to citizenship, defends President Barack Obama's deferred action executive actions and is open to issuing further executive actions.

In regards to immigrant detention, Clinton has acknowledged the need for more resources for immigrant detainees, but not necessarily the closure of such immigrant detention facilities. Speaking to reporters, Clinton said she favors more resources for detainees to have their legal due process and identify family members already living in the U.S.

Based on a transcript provided by Univision, Clinton said undocumented immigrant children should not be deported back to the violence in their native country. While the children should have their right to due process, Clinton said they should look into "what would happen if they went back."

Her stance on immigrant detention was further criticized on Oct. 8, during the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's gala in Washington, D.C. While presenting an award to celebrity chef José Andrés, an undocumented immigrant youth -- also referred to as DREAMers -- interrupted on her stance on private-prison corporations.

The DREAMer was Juan Carlos Ramos of United We Dream (UWD), an immigrant youth-led organization advocating for the fair treatment of fellow immigrants and families. Clinton was unfazed and continued with her speech, while Ramos said the former secretary of state's presidential campaign profits from the detention of immigrants.

"I just interrupted Hillary Clinton because as an immigrant youth, I just want to give her a reminder to her that we don't trust her because of the fact she's receiving money from private prison corporations, which unfortunately are the ones in charge of detaining and eventually deporting our people," said Ramos in a video following the interruption.

Ironically, Clinton's Latino Outreach Director Lorella Praeli previously worked for UWD.

On Friday, while meeting with Black Lives Matter activists, Clinton said she wants to eliminate private prisons and is working on a better criminal justice plan.

Bernie Sanders:

For Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., he recently introduced legislation, titled "Justice is Not For Sale Act of 2015," which calls for the end of privately-run prisons and the closure of immigrant detention centers, unless an immigrant is proven to be a threat to public.

Sanders also supports comprehensive immigration reform, Obama's immigration executive actions and increase legal services for guest workers. He also favors providing legal status for undocumented immigrants, specifically a path to citizenship.

Sanders, however, has had a mixed record on immigration. He supported the 2013 Senate bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill, but voted against a similar comprehensive bill in 2007. The 2007 bill (S.1639) was introduced by then-Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass. According to Sanders, the bill would drive down wages for lower-income workers. More recently, he told the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce this July that there needs to be caution when discussing an "open border."

Sanders said, "If that were to happen, which I strongly disagree with, there is no question in my mind that would substantially lower wages in this country. When you have 36 percent of Hispanic kids in this country who can't find jobs, and you bring a lot of unskilled workers into this country, what do you think happens to that 36 percent of kids who today are unemployed, 51 percent of African American kids."

Sanders did agree with USHCC President and CEO Javier Palomarez that legalizing undocumented immigrants would boost the economy.

The independent Vermont senator has voted for the 2010 DREAM Act, which would have legalized certain undocumented immigrant children.

Martin O'Malley:

Unlike Clinton and Sanders, O'Malley never served in Congress. But during his tenure as governor of Maryland, O'Malley did sign a state-based DREAM Act bill, which provided immigrant children with improved access for higher education. O'Malley also signed legislation granting immigrants the opportunity to apply for driver's licenses.

In regards to proposals during the presidential campaign trail, O'Malley also favors comprehensive immigration reform with a full pathway to citizenship. O'Malley, as did Clinton, said he will issue further immigration executive actions if congressional gridlock continues. He said he would direct the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to defer deportation for immigrants who were eligible in the 2013 Senate immigration reform bill, which Sanders voted in favor.

O'Malley proposed expanding the Affordable Care Act for immigrants eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) programs,

On immigrant detention, O'Malley calls for the end of the congressional 34,000 bed quota for DHS to follow, which is a stance also echoed by Sanders. O'Malley and Sanders also agree on closing detention centers, improving treatment of detainees and limiting detention to those to pose a clear threat to public safety.

O'Malley also proposed for an independent agency to set U.S. immigration policy. The aforementioned agency would provide recommendations based on non-partisan research.

First Debate:

The first Democratic presidential primary debate airs on Oct. 13, on CNN.

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