Immigration

Kendrick is the only candidate who has consistently supported comprehensive immigration reform to provide a pathway to citizenship, secure our borders, uphold the rule of law, protect workers, and unite families. He firmly opposes the recent Arizona immigration law and would fight against any attempt to bring a similar measure to Florida.

It is time to create a pathway to legalization for the nearly 12 million undocumented residents in the U.S. and provide them an opportunity to become tax-paying citizens and step out from the shadows of society. It is morally wrong, fiscally irresponsible, and logistically impossible for the government to pursue mass deportation for undocumented residents. It is unconscionable to have so many families and communities living in the shadows in constant fear of deportation. We need to modernize our current immigration system – including making long-term investments in the technology and resources that protect our borders, ports, and airports – so that it provides alternatives to unauthorized immigration and the lengthy backlogs that harm families and children. There is an urgent need for bipartisan action on this issue at the federal level. Comprehensive immigration reform is one of the few issues that both business and labor agree upon.

The recent measure signed into law in Arizona is neither fair nor practical. It encourages police to question people who have done nothing wrong, and it does a disservice to people in this country who are employed, paying their taxes and are good citizens of their communities. As a former Trooper in the Florida Highway Patrol, Kendrick knows that laws like this will also hamper law enforcement efforts and make it harder to find people who will speak out as witnesses to crimes. This law is impractical and will not make anyone safer. Furthermore, it flies in the face of who we are as a nation.

Download the One-Pager for Kendrick's take on this issue.