Alfonse D'Amato

From Trump to the pope, immigration speaks to everyone

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While I was in the Senate, I voted, in support of President Reagan, for the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, a bill that reformed immigration in the U.S. Now, almost 30 years later, the issue of immigration is still a hot-button topic. Two very new and impactful voices are entering the fray — Pope Francis and Donald Trump.

Francis is becoming a champion of immigrant causes. Last month he addressed the topic of immigration by urging clergy and other foreign ministers to welcome and protect the unaccompanied immigrant children who enter our country. When the pope comes to the U.S. next month, he plans to speak at length on the topic, and will meet with immigrant and Hispanic families in Philadelphia.

It’s no surprise that the issue of immigration is front and center on the GOP campaign trail. Donald Trump, who has little filter and seems to be using exactly the type of non-politician rhetoric people want to hear, said last week that “anchor babies,” or children born in the U.S. to non-citizens, should be deported.

Like him or not, The Donald continues to dominate the Republican field. An article in The New York Times last weekend explained why “Trump Won’t Fold.” It told the story of Jan Mannarino, a 65-year-old retired teacher who drove an hour to see Trump at a rally. “Even if he doesn’t win, he’s teaching other politicians to stop being politicians,” she said. “He comes on strong. He could say it gently. But I think no one would listen.”

There’s no doubt in my mind that voters are embracing Trump because he says what he thinks, even if it may not be politically correct. To that end, you have to have been living in a bubble if you haven’t heard the term “anchor baby.” Yet, depending on the candidate, you hear several different points of view on the topic.

Trump’s statements are forcing candidates in states with high immigrant populations to move to the right. Jeb Bush, who has been exceptionally weak on the topic, has a history of taking moderate stances on immigration, suggested that greater enforcement and border security would prevent pregnant mothers from “sneaking” into the country.

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