Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Two things Clinton said in Las Vegas that set her apart on immigration

Hillary Clinton Discusses Immigration Reform

Steve Marcus

Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton listens to Juan Salazar during a visit to Rancho High School Tuesday, May 5, 2015. Rancho High School student Betsaida Frausto looks on at right. Clinton joined a roundtable of young Nevadans discussing immigration reform.

Hillary Clinton Discusses Immigration Reform

Students wait for Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to arrive for a campaign stop at Rancho High School Tuesday, May 5, 2015. Clinton joined a roundtable of young Nevadans discussing immigration reform. Launch slideshow »

Presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton talked about immigration in Las Vegas today with two main goals in mind: to draw a sharp line between herself and the long list of Republican opponents she faces, and to challenge those same candidates to talk about a deeply divisive and complex issue that could play a crucial role in next year’s election.

Clinton delivered her message at Rancho High School during a brief speech and a panel talk with six young Nevadans who are undocumented immigrants or have relatives who want to become legal residents. Among them were prominent immigration activists Astrid Silva and Blanca Gamez, as well as Betsaida Frausto, a 16-year-old junior at Rancho.

Here are two main takeaways on what Clinton discussed:

Addressing a small crowd of spectators — and a big pack of reporters from around the country — Clinton drew a stark divide between herself and GOP candidates.

Politicians unanimously agree that a legislative overhaul is needed to fix the country’s immigration system, but few have offered clear ideas to achieve one. While Clinton didn’t offer specifics, she did say she wants to “support a path to citizenship,” noting that no Republican candidate is doing the same.

Clinton used today as an opportunity to criticize Republican House members for failing to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill that senators approved two years ago.

“You know where I stand,” Clinton said. “There can’t be any question about it.”

She praised President Barack Obama’s recently announced executive actions granting deportation relief to millions but said she would “go a step further” if she were elected president.

Obama’s plan, the president's reaction to the congressional impasse, is currently in legal limbo. It doesn’t grant U.S. citizenship, but rather prevents some people from being deported and lets some undocumented immigrants work legally.

The executive actions gained broad support from Democrats when Obama first announced them during a visit to Las Vegas in November. Until now, Clinton hadn’t said much about whether she’d allow the actions to stand if she were elected president.

While Clinton said today that she supports Obama’s proposal, she wants to make it easier for people to become U.S. citizens instead of just getting deportation relief.

“When they talk about legal status, that is code for second-class status,” Clinton said, noting that she wants “a more humane, more targeted and more effective” approach to enforcing immigration laws.