Harris and Walz support amnesty for undocumented immigrants
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz recently emerged as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate. His past advocacy for a broad amnesty for illegal immigrants aligns him with Harris, hinting at this issue’s potential prioritization in a future Harris administration.
In August 2021, Walz penned a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, advocating for a pathway to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants. He specifically highlighted essential workers, Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and their families, urging a clean pathway to citizenship in a potential budget reconciliation bill.
Both Walz and Harris have consistently supported initiatives to grant illegal immigrants citizenship rights. Harris had even backed the Biden administration’s immigration reform bill, which sought to provide citizenship to around 11 million illegal immigrants over an eight-year period but faced Republican opposition that prevented its adoption amid border concerns.
Despite the setback, Harris remains vocal about the need for bipartisan immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship. She has emphasized the importance of keeping families together, protecting Dreamers, and addressing border challenges. Her focus this year has been on a bipartisan Senate bill aimed at beefing up border resources and implementing measures to control border arrivals during surge periods, although this bill does not include provisions for citizenship.
Walz and Harris’ shared commitment to addressing immigration challenges reflects their broader vision for comprehensive reform and aligns with their party’s stance on offering protections and opportunities to undocumented individuals living in the United States. As they campaign for the upcoming election, their platform includes pledges to enhance border security, combat human trafficking, and advance policies to create a more inclusive and equitable immigration system.
The ongoing dialogue surrounding immigration reform underscores the complexities inherent in addressing the nation’s diverse immigration issues. Walz and Harris appear poised to advocate for policies that balance security concerns with humanitarian considerations, seeking to craft legislation that reflects the values of fairness, compassion, and respect for the contributions of immigrants to American society.
