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How Democrats Went From Being Border Hawks to Amnesty Doves

February 6, 2018

Over the years, Democrats have gone from a party of border hawks to a party of amnesty doves.

During his 1995 State of the Union, President Bill Clinton warned about the problems illegal immigration caused for the country. Clinton touted steps his administration was taking to identify and deport illegal immigrants. He also spoke of how his administration would follow some of the proposals from former Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, chairwoman of the 1995 Commission on Immigration Reform.

In 2006, then-Senator Barack Obama voted for a border wall along with then-Senator Hillary Clinton and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.).

A Washington Free Beacon SUPERcut compiled video of current Democratic senators shows their evolution from border hawks to amnesty doves. Red-state Democrats like Sens. Joe Donnelly (D., Ind.), John Tester (D., Mont.) and Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.) voted in the past against the Dream Act, legislation that would have legalized "Dreamers" who entered the country illegally with their parents when they were minors. Now, the senators are in favor of legalizing the Dreamers.

Sen. Diane Feinstein (D., Calif.) appeared to be a border hawk during the early 1990s. She derided people who were here illegally and were on Medicaid, and she argued the United States could no longer be the welfare system for Mexico.

"The day when America could be the welfare system for Mexico is gone," Feinstein said. "The people who should be here are those who come legally at this time."

In 2010, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D., Mo.) appeared to brag on "Fox News Sunday" that she voted against immigration reform.

Democrats today have identified immigration stances they previously espoused to now be part of a "campaign to make America white again."

Congress has until Feb. 8 to pass a long-term budget that includes immigration reform of some degree or risk another government shutdown. The government shut down for three days after congress was unable to pass a short term continuing resolution (CR) because it didn't include a fix for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) recipients.

Published under: Democrats , Immigration