Elections can change immigration policies

Article publisher: 
Oregonians for Immigration Reform
Article date: 
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Article category: 
Oregon Issues
Medium
Article Body: 
Congress sets immigration law, and Presidents are supposed to carry it out.  Both branches of government have failed to protect the interests of citizens in regard to immigration.  The path to change is through electing new legislators and a president who will represent the interests of citizens and not the various special interests now in control of immigration policy.  While immigration laws come from Congress, States have many tools to use in helping the federal government enforce immigration law, so state legislators and officials are important too.
 
If citizens have adequate information about candidates and will actively support good candidates with financial contributions or other campaign assistance, they can make major changes in the current immigration situation.
 
Because the deadline for filing to run in Oregon’s May Primary election passed on March 11, we now know which candidates will be available to represent Oregon in Congress,  as well as the available candidates for the Oregon Legislature’s 60 House districts, 30 Senate districts, and other state offices.
 
OFIR will again collect and distribute information on the immigration positions of candidates.  NumbersUSA is also providing information on Congressional candidates whose positions are known, either through voting records or from the questionnaire they offer to candidates.  Most candidates now have websites where they introduce themselves, describe their qualifications, and often list specific Issues of importance on which they have taken a position.
 
You can help identify good candidates by checking candidate websites.  If you find nothing in the Issues section regarding immigration - please contact the candidate through the Contact links on his/her website and ask that they post their specific positions regarding driver licenses for illegal aliens, stopping illegal immigration, reducing excessive legal immigration, mandatory use of E-Verify, stricter controls on Visa applications, etc.  Let OFIR know if you get a response, or if you need further assistance contacting the candidate.
 
Candidates often refrain from posting anything about immigration - hoping the topic won't come up.  It is up to us to make immigration a topic in the upcoming debates - to call them out, if you will.   Election season is when incumbents and other candidates are most open to citizen input.   
 
At this time, one Oregon Congressional candidate has returned NumbersUSA’s questionnaire showing very good positions. This is Dennis Linthicum, running in the primary in Congressional District 2 against incumbent Rep. Greg Walden, whose grade on immigration votes is currently C+.  Please take a look at the candidate comparison for these two candidates at:  https://www.numbersusa.com/content/elections/races/congressional/house-e...
 
If the link doesn’t work for you, you can visit the homepage of NumbersUSA at https://www.numbersusa.com/content/, click Congress – Candidate Comparisons – then, on the map of U.S., click on Oregon – then on 2014 Oregon 2d Congressional District.  You will see a comparison of positions on a list of 12 immigration subjects.
 
Campaign websites of Linthicum and Walden showing their Issue statements are at: 
http://www.dennis2014.com/issues  (includes a statement on immigration)
http://www.gregwalden.com/category/issues/  (has no statement on immigration)
 
You can call or send emails to the candidates through the Contact links on their websites.
 
Three Democrats are vying for their party’s nomination in Congressional District 2:  
Aelea Christofferson -  www.aeleaforcongress.com  (has no page on issues)
Barney Spera -  no web site; email address: SpBrn3@aol.com
Frank Vulliet -  www.frankanswers.us (website pending)
 
OFIR plans to continue sending briefs on candidates in the May primary as information develops.  
 
Next in the series will be on the U.S. Senate race, where Rep. Jason Conger and Dr. Monica Wehby appear to be the leading Republican candidates.  The winner in the Republican primary will be challenging incumbent Sen. Jeff Merkley, who has a grade of F for his voting record on immigration issues, which you can see on NumbersUSA's website.