Charlie Baker on Immigration

Revoke MA National Guard on border due to family separation

Baker had previously pledged a UH-72 Lakota helicopter and two military analysts to the border on June 1 and were expected to be deployed at the end of the month. The Massachusetts National Guard has sent personnel and resources to the border in the past under previous administrations, including for Presidents Obama and Bush.

Democrats, who have sought to tie Baker to Trump with little success so far in his reelection campaign, argued that the governor's reversal on National Guard resources doesn't go far enough. "Governor Baker should have never offered our state's resources to enforce Donald Trump's inhumane immigration policy in the first place," said Jay Gonzalez, one of the Democrats seeking the party nomination.

Open to ideas from Latino advisers on sanctuary state

The bill, known as the Safe Communities Act, would prohibit local police from asking about a person's immigration status or arresting someone solely because of their immigration status. "I've said many times that I think that decision should be made at the local level," Baker said at a press conference where he established a new Latino Advisory Committee.

Baker thus far has been consistent in his opposition to the bill, and reiterated that he gets "very nervous" about the idea of taking away the ability for local officials to make decisions on law enforcement for their own communities. "That said, you don't put together a commission like this if you don't expect them to address some difficult issues, and I look forward to their recommendations," Baker said.

Adopt Secure Communities and REAL ID standards

[The REAL ID Act implements the following:

• New standards for state-issued driver licenses.
• Changing visa limits for temporary workers
• Introducing "delivery bonds"
• Tightening the laws for asylum and deportation of terrorists.
• Waiving laws that interfere with construction of physical barriers at the borders.]

Teach English to immigrants and match up with jobs

Baker: "My first public event as a candidate was at the Emerging Technologies Center at UMass Lowell. They've basically created this virtuous circle where the employers benefit from having access to the academic talent and the kids at the school, and it creates this runway for kids coming out of the school who can go to these places and go to work, which helps build up the quality of the economy up in that region. Really good idea, seems to be working pretty well.

"On a different level, to try to help immigrants find jobs and find their way into the economy is first of all, teaching them English. Being very aggressive and making sure they know how to speak English because, let's face it, an important part of how you succeed in the American economy is to speak English. (WBUR, 8/13/2014)

Humanitarian relief for unaccompanied kids crossing border

All three Democratic candidates for governor, and the leading Republican candidate, Charlie Baker, said they agree with Patrick that Massachusetts should host the children. "All of the states, including Massachusetts, should be part of the effort to provide humanitarian relief for the unaccompanied children that have crossed the border," Baker said, calling the crisis "heartbreaking." Baker said that federal officials need to provide details about the facility and an "absolute guarantee" that it would be temporary. (Boston Globe, 7/18/2014)

Verify legal status before providing any state benefits

Beacon Hill refuses to pass laws that will ensure state funding is not funneled to illegal residents. I would establish regulations, to the extent granted to me by law, which would not allow illegal immigrants to receive public assistance. As governor, I would reissue the executive order that Deval Patrick rescinded to allow the state police to work with federal agencies to enforce immigration laws.

Protect DREAMers instead of deporting them.

Nearly 800,000 young people eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA)--known as "Dreamers"--played no role in the decision to come here and they have known no other home but the United States.

Already, more than 12,000 Dreamers have lost their protective status and are susceptible to deportation. This is not a theoretical peril, but in fact an immediate and urgent one, because more than 100 young people in our cities and towns are losing their protective status every day. Those numbers will accelerate dramatically without a legislative fix.

We stand with these young American immigrants not only because it is good for our communities and a strong American 21st century economy, but also because it is the right thing for our nation to do. DACA recipients have subjected themselves to extensive background and security checks in order to work and attend college. They are studying at our universities. They are working to support themselves and their families, paying taxes and contributing to their communities in a myriad of ways. In the absence of congressional action providing for a permanent resolution, the termination of DACA puts these young people and their families in peril, and will destabilize our schools, workplaces and communities.

We recognize the complexities and challenges created by this issue, but swift, successful action is needed, action that can build momentum to reassure policymakers that progress on other immigration challenges is possible as well. As a bipartisan coalition of governors, we stand ready to help.