Presidential candidate Beto O’rourke proposed a «major overhaul» of the immigration system of the United States, which would include granting citizenship to 11 million illegal immigrants and investments in the amount of $ 5 billion on the maintenance of the rule of law in Central America.
Former Congressman from Texas said that on the first day of his tenure as President, he will take measures to put an end to the separation of a family on the border, to cancel the travel ban to reunite families and to «remove fear of deportation» for young immigrants known as Dreamers.
If elected, O’rourke intends to detain only persons with a criminal record who «pose a danger to our communities».
Like other Democrats, O’rourke said he would work with Congress on enacting legislation providing a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants. He said he would facilitate naturalization, making the process free for all who meet the requirements for citizenship. And he proposed to abolish visa restrictions and establish a new visa category that allows communities and congregations to sponsor visas.
He also poobedal to invest $ 5 billion in the fight against violence and poverty in the three Central American countries, of which currently drive most immigrants are Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.
O’rourke is fluent in Spanish, has served three terms in Congress, representing the border town of El Paso. He likes to say that El Paso is one of the safest cities in the country, «not from behind the wall and despite the wall» along the border.
