2020 Conventions: on Immigration


Donald Trump: FactCheck: Only 5 out 300 miles of wall are in new places

Trump said, "We have already built 300 miles of border wall."

FactCheck: As of August 7, some 275 miles of barriers had been constructed on the US border with Mexico -- but just 5 of those miles were erected in places where no barriers had existed before. 245 miles were erected in place of old barriers, while 25 miles of new "secondary wall" were erected to fortify primary barriers. The Trump-era replacement barriers are often much larger than the older ones they are replacing.

Source: CNN Fact-Check on 2020 Republican Convention speech Aug 28, 2020

Donald Trump: Wall is working beyond our wildest expectations

In perhaps no area did the Washington special interests try harder to stop us than on my policy of pro-American immigration. But I refused to back down -- and today America's borders are more secure than EVER before. We ENDED catch-and-release, stopped asylum fraud, took down human traffickers who prey on women and children, and we have deported 20,000 Gang Members and 500,000 Criminal Aliens. The Wall will soon be complete, and it is working beyond our wildest expectations.

We will BAN deadly Sanctuary Cities, and ensure that federal healthcare is protected for American Citizens -- not illegal aliens. We will have strong borders, strike down terrorists who threaten our people, and keep America OUT of endless and costly foreign wars.

Source: Speech at 2020 Republican National Convention Aug 28, 2020

Reform Party: Undocumented should pay fine and taxes & go to back of line

For the millions living here illegally but otherwise playing by the rules, we must require them to come out of the shadows and get right with the law. We support a system that requires undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, pay taxes, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens. They are our neighbors, and we can help them become full tax-paying, law-abiding, productive members of society.
Source: American Reform Party Positions (2020 Conventions) Aug 22, 2020

Socialist Party: Abolish all anti-immigrant laws, shut down ICE

Abolish all anti-immigrant laws. Stop the raids and deportations and demonization of immigrants. Shut down ICE and the concentration camps and reunite families. The government's war on immigrants must end. The border wall must be dismantled. Amnesty and citizenship for those without documents. Full rights for all!
Source: PSL's 2020 Ten Point Program (2020 Socialist Convention) Aug 15, 2020

Socialist Party: Full citizenship rights upon six months residency

We defend the rights of all immigrants to education, health care, and full civil and legal rights and call for an unconditional amnesty program for all undocumented people. We oppose the imposition of any fees on those receiving amnesty. We call for full citizenship rights upon demonstrating residency for six months.
Source: Socialist Party Platform at 2020-2021 PSL Convention Aug 3, 2020

Democratic Party: Provide roadmap to citizenship for millions of undocumented

Even as we work to reverse the enormous damage caused by the Trump Administration, we are determined to build a 21st century immigration system that embodies our values, expands economic opportunity for all Americans and enhances our global competitiveness. Democrats believe it is long past time to provide a roadmap to citizenship for the millions of undocumented workers, caregivers, students, and children who are an essential part of our economy and of the fabric of our nation.
Source: Democratic Party Platform adopted at 2020 Convention Jul 27, 2020

Democratic Party: Reverse bans and policies that deny protection to refugees

Democrats will end the Trump Administration's shameful efforts to close doors to the world's most vulnerable. We will reverse discriminatory bans and policies that deny protection to groups based on their religion, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We will significantly raise the annual global refugee admissions target, and work with Congress to create a minimum annual number for refugee admissions, while expanding and identifying new pathways for refugees to seek safe havens.
Source: Democratic Party Platform adopted at 2020 Convention Jul 27, 2020

Green Party: All seeking asylum should be given permanent resident status

All persons fleeing political, racial, religious, or other types of persecution must be welcomed and given permanent resident status. The history of arbitrary denial of political asylum claims must be ended. Particular attention should be given to those minorities who are political exiles and refugees and those whose lives would be at risk if asylum is not granted.

We oppose the militarization of our borders, (mis)using the National Guard as border police, and building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico. We call for the immediate dismantling of the border wall. We mourn the death of those thousands of men, women and children who have died trying to cross this border, where a couple of decades ago such deaths were virtually unheard of.

Source: Green Party Platform at 2020 Green National Convention Jul 9, 2020

Reform Party: Nation which can't control borders is in grave danger

Guaranteeing the security of our national borders means that we must have the ability to monitor and manage all traffic crossing our land or sea borders. A nation which cannot control its borders places itself in grave danger to those who would use that to their advantage, whether they be trafficking drugs or weapons, human trafficking, supporting a black market economy, or intent on terrorist attack.
Source: Reform Party Platform at 2020 Convention; ReformParty.org Jun 22, 2020

Constitution Party: Moratorium on immigration; discontinue federal assistance

We favor a moratorium on immigration to the United States, except in extreme hardship cases, until all federal assistance be discontinued and proper security procedures have been instituted against terrorist infiltration. We oppose the provision of welfare subsidies and other taxpayer-supported benefits to illegal aliens, and reject the practice of bestowing U.S. citizenship on children born to illegal alien parents while in this country. We oppose any extension of amnesty to illegal aliens.

We call for the use of U.S. troops to protect the states against invasion. We oppose bilingual ballots. We insist that those who wish to take part in the electoral process and governance of this nation be required to read and comprehend basic English as a precondition of citizenship. We support English as the official language for all governmental business by the United States.

Source: Constitution Party Platform at 2020 Convention May 2, 2020

Libertarian Party: No unreasonable constraints in crossing political boundaries

Political freedom and escape from tyranny demand that individuals not be unreasonably constrained by government in the crossing of political boundaries. Economic freedom demands the unrestricted movement of human as well as financial capital across national borders.
Source: Libertarian Party Platform for 2018-2020 National Convention Jul 4, 2018

  • The above quotations are from 2020 Democratic and Republican Conventions.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Immigration.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Donald Trump on Immigration.
  • Click here for more quotes by Joe Biden on Immigration.
2020 Presidential contenders on Immigration:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN)
Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Sep 07, 2020