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Two candidates campaigning in Iowa tout their immigration plans

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August 16th, 2023 by admin

Republican presidential candidates Tim Scott and Asa Hutchinson have used appearances at the Iowa State Fair to tout widely different proposals to deal with immigration issues. Scott visited a border crossing at Yuma (YOO-muh), Arizona, earlier this month.

Scott says as president he’d declare fentanyl a public health emergency in the U-S and have Border Patrol agents turn away all migrants. In addition, Scott would restore a Trump Administration policy called “Remain in Mexico.” It means all asylum seekers would be required to wait in Mexico for the U-S court hearing on their asylum application.

Former Arkansas Governor Asa (AY-suh) Hutchinson was in charge of border security during the George W. Bush Administration. He says the U-S has to partner with Mexico’s government to go after the drug cartels.

Hutchinson is also proposing what he describes as a state-based program for work visas.

The federal government currently grants work visas to immigrants and most visas are the result of a business sponsoring a worker seeking a visa. Hutchinson says there’d still be a federal role in security screening under this proposal, but states could be a partner to determne the number of visas they need and for what occupations