IL GOP U.S. Senate candidates (l to r) Mark Curran, Peggy Hubbard, Robert Marshall, Tom Tarter
TINLEY PARK – Immigration and amnesty were hot topics at a forum among IL GOP U.S. Senate candidates Thursday night in Tinley Park, Illinois. Republican candidate Peggy Hubbard, a veteran and former law enforcement officer from the Belleville area, stirred a curt response from her opponents when she accused "several" of her primary opponents as being "for amnesty."
Hubbard was pushed as to what exactly she meant by saying her opponents were "for amnesty."
"I actually saw Mr. Curran give a town hall meeting for illegals," Hubbard said. "Then I also saw that Mr. Tarter is for amnesty. Are you Democrat or Republican?" she asked.
Dr. Tarter responded by saying he's writing a white paper on the issue regarding the "Dreamers" who came to to America with their parents illegally, saying he would not allow those Dreamers that had committed felonies to become citizens, but he would specifically allow those that have served in the military to become citizens.
Mark Curran said Ms. Hubbard's accusation about the town hall was not true.
"With regards to those here illegally – it's a mess, and has been for some time," Curran said. He referred to measures that have not been able to get from the U.S. Congress to the President's desk, saying the issue is at a stalemate. "There's not enough funding for border agents, ICE agents, or the wall – and I support the President on those issues," he said. "I guarantee I know more about immigration than all of the other candidates."
Dr. Marshall said he took a hard line against illegal immigration and sanctuary cities.
Current U.S. Senator from Illinois Dick Durbin, who the winner of the IL GOP primary will face in 2020, is staunchly in favor of amnesty for Dreamers and supports sanctuary cities.
(An audio of this portion of the U.S. Senate candidate discussion that ended up on immigration. Please note, this recording was made by the moderator, IR Editor Fran Eaton, from her podium)
More to come on Illinois Review.com
