Rand Paul presidential campaign, 2016/Immigration

	; ; Former Presidential candidate ; Rand Paul
	Political offices: ; U.S. Senator; (Assumed office: 2011)
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Rand Paul suspended his presidential run on February 3, 2016.^[1]

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This page was current as of the 2016 election.

During the seventh Republican presidential primary debate on January 28, 2016, Rand Paul talked about border security and Marco Rubio’s “Gang of Eight” bill: “But I would say that if you want to defend the country, it begins with border security. And this is where I've had my disagreement with Senator Rubio. When he brought forward the ‘Gang of Eight’ bill to give citizenship to those who came here illegally, I put forward an amendment that says we should have more scrutiny on those who are coming as students, those who are coming as immigrants, those who are coming as refugees, because we had two refugees come to my town in Bowling Green and try to attack us. Marco opposed this because they made a deal. He made a deal with Chuck Schumer that he would oppose any conservative amendments. And I think that's a mistake, and I just don't think Marco can have it both ways. You can't be in favor of defend us...against Islam -- radical Islam -- if you're not for border security.”^[2]

At the fifth GOP primary debate on December 15, 2015, Paul discussed government surveillance and immigration: “We are not any safer through the bulk collection of all Americans' records. In fact, I think we're less safe. We get so distracted by all of the information, we're not spending enough time getting specific immigration - specific information on terrorists. The other thing is, is the one thing that might have stopped San Bernardino, Calif., that might have stopped 9/11 would have been stricter controls on those who came here. And Marco has opposed at every point increased security - border security for those who come to our country. On his Gang of Eight bill, he would have liberalized immigration, but he did not - and he steadfastly opposed any new border security requirements for refugees or students. Last week, I introduced another bill saying we need more security, we need more scrutiny. Once again, Marco opposed this. So Marco can't have it both ways. He thinks he wants to be this, "Oh, I'm great and strong on national defense." But he's the weakest of all the candidates on immigration. He is the one for an open border that is leaving us defenseless. If we want to defend the country, we have to defend against who's coming in, and Marco is - has more of an allegiance to Chuck Schumer and to the liberals than he does to conservative policy.”^[3]

On September 21, 2015, Paul said the U.S. should stop expediting permanent legal status applications for Cubans and "just make the policy consistent with the rest of immigration policy.”^[4]

In August 2015, Paul said of birthright citizenship, “If you are looking at border security, and we’re going to have a secure border, then I’m not sure we need to change citizenship. Birthright citizenship is a beacon for the world. So is what we did for the Dreamers. Birthright citizenship – it is what it is. That's the way the law has been interpreted. But is it a good idea to do that with an open border? Probably not." As a freshman senator in 2011, Paul joined in on a resolution to clarify “that under the 14th Amendment a person born in the United States to illegal aliens does not automatically gain citizenship."^[5]

Following the Chattanooga shooting at two Marine recruitment centers in July 2015, Paul stated there should be heightened security for immigrants coming from “countries that have hotbeds of jihadism and hotbeds of this Islamism.”^[6]

On his presidential campaign website, Paul described his immigration platform. Paul wrote, "I do not support amnesty, but rather I support a legal immigration process. I recognize that our country has been enriched by those who seek the American Dream and have a desire for a better life. However, millions of illegal immigrants are crossing our border without our knowledge, and this threatens our national security. As President, I would secure our border immediately. Before issuing any visas or starting the legal immigration process, we must first ensure that our border is secure.^[7]

When asked in January 2015 if he would nullify President Barack Obama's executive orders on immigration. Paul responded, "[T]he 11 million, I think, are never going home, don’t need to be sent home, and I would incorporate them into our society by giving them work visas and making them taxpayers."^[8]

Paul speaks at U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce on immigration in March 2013.

Paul introduced S 3015 - Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act of 2014 in response to President Obama's executive order to delay deportation proceedings for certain immigrants residing in America without legal permission.^[9]^[10]^[11]

In June 2013, Paul said, "he would support a comprehensive immigration bill if senators accept his amendment to increase Congressional oversight over border security," according to the Washington Post.^[12]

As a member of the 112th Congress, Paul cosponsored S J Res 2 in January 2011 to amend constitutional requirements for citizenship. Paul also cosponsored S 723 - Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011, which would have required citizenship by birth be granted only to those with at lesast one parent who is American, a lawful permanent resident, or an active service member.^[13]^[14]

Paul wrote a column for The Washington Times in February 2013 discussing his stance on immigration. Paul wrote, "The gang of eight wants back taxes and fines. Most of these undocumented immigrants are poor and may not be able to ever pay ten years of back payroll taxes. I would be willing to forego the fines and back taxes in exchange for a longer and significant time period before these folks are eligible to enter into the green card line."^[15]

In June 2010, Paul suggested he did not support citizenship by birth if the child's parents were here without legal permission. According to The Hill, Paul said "he would support amending the Constitution to deny automatic citizenship to children born in the United States." Paul explained that "the 14th amendment actually says that you will be a citizen as long as you are under the jurisdiction of the United States. Many argue that these children that are born to illegal aliens are really still under the jurisdiction of the Mexican government. I think we need to fight that out in the courts. If we lose, then I think we should amend the Constitution because I don't think the 14th amendment was meant to apply to illegal aliens. It was meant to apply to the children of slaves."^[16]

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