PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Dave McCormick for Senate campaign has released a new statement and video targeting Senator Bob Casey’s track record on immigration, accusing him of failing to live up to his promises to Pennsylvanians. Elizabeth Gregory, McCormick for Senate communications director, stated that Casey’s 18-year record in Washington reveals a stark contrast to his initial tough-on-the-border stance.
“Before joining the swamp, Bob Casey pledged to be tough on the border,” Gregory said. “One look at Casey’s eighteen-year record proves that was a lie. He’s voted against the border wall, for mass amnesty, for sanctuary cities, against money to detect fentanyl, and against deporting criminal illegals. Pennsylvanians deserve a Senator who will secure our border and keep them safe, and that’s Dave McCormick.”
In a pointed reminder, the campaign showcased Casey’s 2006 statement: “Anybody in Washington, who goes around and puffs their chest up and says, ‘We’re going to be tough on the borders,’ if they’ve been there for several years or many years, they’ve got a lot of explaining to do.” Eighteen years later, McCormick’s team argues, Casey’s voting record contradicts his early promises.
Key points raised by the McCormick campaign include:
- Border Wall Opposition: Casey voted against measures to fund the construction of a border wall.
- Mass Amnesty Support: He supported policies that would grant amnesty to large numbers of undocumented immigrants.
- Sanctuary Cities: Casey voted multiple times to allow sanctuary cities to receive federal funding, thereby protecting them from federal immigration law enforcement.
- Opioid Detection Funding: He opposed $800 million in funds aimed at detecting opioids and narcotics at the border.
- Kate’s Law: Casey voted against this law, which sought mandatory minimum sentences for felons who re-enter the U.S. illegally.
- Federal Benefits for Illegal Immigrants: He supported legislation that would provide federal benefits to undocumented immigrants.
- Census Counting: Casey voted against measures to exclude illegal immigrants from being counted in the Census.
- Executive Orders: He opposed former President Trump’s executive order to crack down on sanctuary cities.
The Immigration Debate Amidst Record Border Crossings
The debate over immigration policy is especially relevant as the Biden administration grapples with record levels of illegal border crossings. In December 2023, arrests for illegal crossings from Mexico reached an all-time high of 249,785, marking a 31% increase from November and a 13% increase from the same month in 2022. Including migrants allowed entry through legal pathways, encounters totaled over 300,000 for the first time.
The surge in illegal crossings poses significant challenges for the administration, which has been using parole authority to grant entry to migrants. This practice has stirred controversy and become a contentious point in Senate negotiations over border security.
Since President Biden took office, more than 9 million illegal immigrants have crossed the border, including those who evaded capture. This figure surpasses the total arrests made during President Obama’s two terms within just the first year and a half of Biden’s presidency.
These statistics accentuate the complexities and controversies surrounding current immigration policies. While McCormick’s campaign paints Casey’s record as part of the problem, supporters of Casey argue that a nuanced approach to immigration is necessary. They contend that comprehensive reform, rather than strict enforcement measures alone, is key to managing border security effectively.
As the Senate race intensifies, immigration remains a hot-button issue, highlighting the stark choices voters face. Candidates’ positions on this matter will undoubtedly influence the electorate, as Pennsylvanians seek solutions to one of the nation’s most critical and polarizing challenges.
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