Analyzing the White House Candidates’ Positions on Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) was active in the comprehensive immigration debate in 2006, working on a bipartisan basis to try to improve key provisions of the legislation like the employment authorization verification system. He was part of the bipartisan group of Senators that met on a regular basis to plot strategy during what turned out to be a highly controversial legislative debate. In addition, Senator Obama co-authored citizenship legislation with Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), and despite spirited opposition has maintained his support for allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, a position he developed while serving in the Illinois State Senate. | More about Obama

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) was once one of the leading Republicans challenging conservative lawmakers to support a bipartisan, comprehensive immigration solution. He worked closely with Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) to pass a comprehensive reform bill in the U.S. Senate in 2006. The bill passed 62-36 on May 25, with 39 Democrats and 23 Republicans voting in favor, but died when House Republicans decided to attack the bill and use illegal immigration as an electoral issue during the mid-term elections. Senator McCain’s role in the 2006 immigration debate was principled and controversial given the intense opposition from hardliners within his own party, who derided him for working with Senator Kennedy on a bill they labeled “amnesty.” | More about McCain