“From ‘all but eliminating immigration detention,’ to tearing down the border wall, to granting amnesty to illegal immigrants, one thing is clear: credibility-challenged Beto O’Rourke is beyond extreme on border security.” – Mark Miner, Communications Director
O’Rourke Wants To Curtail Immigration Enforcement, “All But Eliminating Immigration Detention,” And Grant Citizenship To Illegal Immigrants Currently In The U.S. “O’Rourke’s plan focuses on curtailing immigration enforcement — in particular, all but eliminating immigration detention — and focusing instead on building up immigration courts and case management systems for newly arriving asylum seekers, while returning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests and deportations of immigrants already living in the US to the constraints of President Barack Obama’s last years in office. … But beyond the now-standard Democratic promise to pass a bill that allows the 11 million unauthorized immigrants currently in the US to apply for legal status and ultimately citizenship, and to expedite legalization and citizenship for DACA recipients and TPS recipients, there isn’t a complete bill framework here.” (Dara Lind, “Beto O’Rourke’s Immigration Plan Would Go Even Further On Executive Power Than Trump,” Vox, 5/31/19)
O’Rourke Said Building A Wall On The U.S.-Mexico Border Is “Racist.” “U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, on Friday attacked President Donald Trump’s immigration and trade plans as a threat to the North American economy and described the president’s reasoning for building a wall on the southern border as ‘racist.’” (Sean Collins Walsh, “Congressman Beto O’Rourke: Trump’s Wall Is ‘Racist’,” Austin American-Statesman, 1/27/17)
In 2019, “O’Rourke Said He Would Take Down Existing Walls And Fencing At The U.S.-Mexico Border If He Could.” “Beto O’Rourke said he would take down existing walls and fencing at the U.S.-Mexico border if he could. O’Rourke, a former congressman for El Paso who ran a high-profile challenge against GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, said in an interview with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes on Thursday, ‘Absolutely, I’d take the wall down.’” (Doha Madani, “’I’d Take The Wall Down,’ Says Beto O’Rourke Of Current Border Barriers,” NBC News, 2/14/19)
O’Rourke Opposes The “Remain In Mexico” Policy For Asylum Seekers. “Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke, a Democratic candidate for president, denounced the Trump administration’s controversial ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy for asylum seekers, accusing the U.S. government of forcing desperate migrants into precarious situations in Mexico.” (Camilo Montoya-Galvez, “O’Rourke Says Trump’s ‘Remain In Mexico’ Policy Fuels ‘Suffering And Death’,” CBS News, 6/30/19)
O’Rourke Supports Driver’s Licenses For Illegal Immigrants. “During a stop in Manchester, N.H., on Thursday, 2020 Democratic POTUS candidate Beto O’Rourke told NHJournal that he supported yesterday’s vote by the Democrat-controlled N.H. House to give illegal immigrants access to Granite State drivers licenses.” (Michael Graham, “Beto in New Hampshire: ‘I Back Drivers Licenses for Illegals’,” Inside Sources, 3/21/19)