Over the years, prominent Democrats, including Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton, have advocated for various immigration policies, some involving stricter enforcement measures. These past positions offer valuable context for understanding the current political landscape surrounding immigration.
During his 1995 State of the Union address, President Bill Clinton expressed concerns about the impact of undocumented immigrants on the job market and public resources. He highlighted his administration's efforts to secure borders, increase deportations of individuals with criminal records, and address illegal hiring practices. Clinton signed into law the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRAIRA), which drew criticism for linking immigration enforcement with criminal justice measures.
The Obama administration, despite facing criticism from some immigrant advocacy groups, oversaw a significant number of deportations between 2009 and 2015. In 2014, President Obama issued executive orders aimed at prioritizing the deportation of criminals while also offering a path to legal status for certain individuals who met specific criteria. He acknowledged the impracticality of mass deportations.
Throughout her career, Hillary Clinton has also addressed immigration, advocating for stricter employer sanctions, enhanced border security measures, and increased cooperation with Mexico. During her presidential campaigns, she emphasized the need to identify and track individuals in the country illegally, prioritize the deportation of criminals and terrorists, and establish a pathway to legal status for those who meet specific requirements, such as paying back taxes and learning English.
Then-Senator Joe Biden, during his 2007 campaign, expressed support for holding employers accountable for hiring undocumented workers and opposed sanctuary city policies. His administration later discouraged the use of the term "illegal alien."
