2016 Candidates Stance on Immigration—John Kasich

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FAIR's Analysis

Ohio Governor and former U.S. Congressman John Kasich is seeking the Republican Party’s nomination for president. While Kasich has not issued an immigration platform, FAIR offers the following analysis of Governor Kasich’s statements on the following five key immigration issues: amnesty; legal immigration; border security; interior enforcement; and taxpayer benefits to illegal aliens.

Amnesty

Kasich supports amnesty for the 12 million illegal aliens in the country. In October 2015 he called illegal aliens “a critical part of our society” who "should have a path to legalization." Kasich has said “whether you take the final step to citizenship, that's a whole other question but I'm not closed to anything.” According to Kasich, illegal aliens living in America "contribute a lot" to the country. Additionally, Kasich emphasizes keeping “families together and to give them a good place in American society.”
Sources: Breitbart, OnTheIssues.com, CBS News.

Legal Immigration

Kasich has not indicated the level of legal immigration he supports. However, during a campaign stop, he suggested that the United States needs “a guest worker program so people can come in, work, and then leave. Our program is too narrow now.” While Kasich previously supported ending birthright citizenship, he has since reversed his position stating, “Let these people who are born here be citizens and that’s the end of it. I don’t want to dwell on it.”
Sources: Breitbart

Border Security

Kasich has called for the completion of the fence along the U.S.-Mexico border and the use of modern technologies such as drones and sensors and “all these things” to secure the border.
Source: Breitbart

Interior Enforcement

Kasich has not taken a position on E-verify but in the past he has indicated that employers should be liable for violating the law. He has, however, taken a strong position against deporting illegal aliens that are in the United States. During a February debate, Kasich said, “I couldn’t even imagine how we would even begin to think about taking a mom or a dad out of a house when they have not committed a crime since they’ve been here, leaving their children in the house. That is not, in my opinion, the kind of values that we believe in.” Kasich has described illegal aliens as “they’re just good people. They’re made in the image of the Lord, and you know, there’s a big element of compassion connected to how we treat people who are trying to find a way to a better life.” Finally, while not offering any specifics, Kasich has said that he would end sanctuary cities.
Sources: YouTube, Breitbart

Taxpayer Benefits to Illegal Aliens

While in Congress, Kasich voted to defund sanctuary cities and to prevent illegal aliens from getting in-state tuition.