Andy Harris on Immigration
Continue construction of wall to stop border emergency
Excerpts from a letter signed by 12 Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives to Vice President Kamala Harris:
We are alarmed by the staggering number of migrants that have been apprehended while illegally crossing the southwest border during this first 100 days. We are extremely concerned that the President ordered a 60-day pause on the border wall construction. [That's a month overdue; hence we] insist that funds appropriated for border security be used immediately to address this crisis.
Border wall construction funds were appropriated by the Congress and should be spent as provided in law. As you can see by the unprecedented number of apprehensions reported by Customs and Border Protection, we are in a state of emergency that requires action, not delay. Source: 2020 MD-1 House incumbent: letter to V.P. Harris , Apr 30, 2021
Enforce our borders & enforce employment rules
Immigrants who come to this country legally are a great asset and make this nation stronger. However, illegal immigration has become a major problem as the federal government has been unwilling to enforce our borders. I recognize the need for legal, temporary workers who don't displace American workers (H2B visas)--but we must enforce their return home when their visas expire. I will work for strong border enforcement and to ensure that illegal immigrants are not taking jobs needed by Americans. Source: 2010 House campaign website, andyharris.com, "Issues" , Nov 2, 2010
Opposes a pathway to citizenship.
Harris opposes the PVS survey question on illegal aliens
Project Vote Smart infers candidate issue stances on key topics by summarizing public speeches and public statements. Candidates are given the opportunity to respond in detail; about 16% did so in the 2010 races.
Project Vote Smart summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: 'Immigration Issues: Do you support a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants?' Source: Project Vote Smart 10-PVS-q12 on Nov 2, 2010
Voted YES to ban DREAMer immigrants from military service.
Harris voted YEA Gosar Anti-DACA Amendment to H.R. 5293
Congressional Summary: The House voted on an amendment by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) to H.R. 5293, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2017. The amendment would prohibit funds from being used to extend the expiration of, or reissue a new expiration date to, the Military Accessions Vital to National Interest (MAVNI) program.
Recommendation by Heritage Foundation to vote YES:(6/16/2016): The MAVNI program is a pilot program authorizing "military services to recruit certain legal immigrants whose skills are considered to be vital to the national interest." However, a DoD memo has made it clear that DACA/DAPA recipients are eligible under this program, essentially opening up a pathway to amnesty for illegal aliens who enlist. By ensuring that this guidance ends, DOD will no longer be able to enlist illegal immigrants through MAVNI.
Recommendation by the ACLU to vote NO: (6/28/2011): The DREAM Act promotes fundamental fairness for young people by allowing access to affordable post-secondary education and military service opportunities, regardless of immigration status, and would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, have lived here for at least five years and have graduated from high school. The DREAM Act could result in billions of dollars in additional tax revenue from tapping the potential of DREAM-eligible students and future service personnel. Since September 11, 2001, more than 69,000 immigrants have earned citizenship while serving, and more than 125 who entered military service after that date have made the ultimate sacrifice in war by giving their lives for this nation.
Legislative outcome: Failed House 210 to 211 (no Senate vote) Source: Congressional vote 16-H5293 on Jun 16, 2016
Allow immigration bans from non-cooperating countries.
Harris voted NAY NO BAN Act
The National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants Act (NO BAN Act) imposes limitations on the President's authority to suspend or restrict aliens from entering the US. It also prohibits religious discrimination in various immigration-related decisions, such as issuing a visa. The President may temporarily restrict the entry of any class of aliens after determining that the restriction would address specific and credible facts that threaten U.S. interests such as security or public safety.
GovTrack.us analysis (4/21/21): President Donald Trump instituted a travel ban on eight countries: Chad, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. The Supreme Court upheld the travel ban 5-4 in the 2018 decision�Trump v. Hawaii. Trump's travel ban was popularly nicknamed "the Muslim ban" by its Democratic critics since most of the countries it applied to were majority Muslim, and because Trump as a 2016 candidate had indeed proposed a Muslim ban. Regardless, President Joe Biden rescinded the policy on his first day in office. Currently, federal law bans any person from being discriminated against when entering the U.S. on the basis of five characteristics: race, sex, nationality, place of birth, or place of residence. The NO BAN Act would add another category: religion.
Rep. Tom McClintock in OPPOSITION: President Trump invoked this authority against countries that were hotbeds of international terrorism and that were not cooperating with the US in providing basic information about travelers coming from these countries. The left called it a 'Muslim ban.' What nonsense. Without this authority, the president would have been powerless to take simple, prudent precautions against terrorists and criminals from entering the US.
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 218-208-3 on April 21, 2021, rollcall #127; introduced in Senate with 42 co-sponsors but no further Senate action during 2021. Source: Congressional vote 21-HR1333 on Feb 25, 2021
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2021-22 Governor, House and Senate candidates on Immigration: Andy Harris on other issues:
MD Gubernatorial:
Alec Ross
Ashwani Jain
Ben Jealous
Dan Cox
Doug Gansler
John B. King
Kelly M. Schulz
Larry Hogan
Martin O`Malley
Maya Cummings
Peter Franchot
Richard Madaleno
Robert Ehrlich
Robin Ficker
Rushern Baker
Shawn Quinn
MD Senatorial:
Arvin Vohra
Benjamin Cardin
Chris Van Hollen
Donna Edwards
Kathy Szeliga
Margaret Flowers
Richard Douglas
Sam Faddis
Tony Campbell Republican Freshman class of 2021:
MD politicians
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