June 5 Primary Election: Where Do Candidates Stand on Immigration?

The June 5 primary elections are just around the corner, and there are many candidates running for local, state and federal offices. But before we go to the polls, we wanted to know where they stand on issues around immigration and border enforcement.

SDIRC sent a questionnaire to all candidates in the following races: U.S. Senate, U.S. Congressional District 49, U.S. Congressional District 50, San Diego County Supervisor District 4, San Diego County Supervisor District 5, San Diego County District Attorney, and San Diego County Sheriff. While some did not respond, many did. Here are the answers just in time for the election!

Here are the questions we asked:

1.Given that unauthorized migration is at a historic low and that the nearly 20,000 agents already deployed at the border apprehend on average 2 people per agent per month, do you agree with President Trump that we need 5,000 more border patrol agents?

2. Do you agree that DHS (ICE, Border Patrol, CBP) operating inside the United States should be required to follow the same rules as other federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, including having probable cause or a warrant before entering private property, searching a vehicle, or detaining someone inside the country?

3. Do you agree that young undocumented immigrants should be allowed to gain lawful status if they were brought to the United States as children, have earned a high school degree or served in the armed forces, and have no criminal record?

4. Do you agree that the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States today should be allowed to earn legal status by paying fines and back taxes, and proving good moral character?

5. The number of visas available for family members to migrate to the United States has not increased in over a generation, resulting in a backlog that is over 20 years long for families in some countries like Mexico, the Philippines, India, and China. Do you believe the number of family visas should be increased?