Mark Kirk on Immigration

Condoms to Mexico:

Kirk claimed that distributing free condoms to Mexico would curb immigration. Kirk proposed distributing free contraceptives to Mexico to curb illegal immigration. He said, “A slower rate of growth of Mexico's population would improve the economy of Mexico. It would also reduce the environmental pressure on Mexico's ecosystem. But a slower rate of growth would also reduce the long-term illegal immigration pressure on America's borders.” [Reuters, 6/22/07]

Flip-Flopped on Support For Tancredo:

Kirk voted against Tancredo legislation; now votes for it. Kirk voted against two amendments offered by anti-immigration congressman Tom Tancredo in 2003. The amendments prohibited the use of federal funds to assist state or local governments that had restrictions on exchanging information with the Bureau of Immigration and Customs regarding an individual’s citizenship or immigration status. However, in 2007 Kirk voted for identical legislation also sponsored by Tancredo. [HR 2555, House Vote 309, 6/24/03; HR 2799, House Vote 409, 7/22/03; HR 2638, House Vote 385, 6/15/07]

Falsely Blamed Immigrants for Insurance Crisis:

Kirk Dismissed High Number of Uninsured, Blaming It On Illegal Immigrants. While addressing the Wheeling Republicans about the healthcare crisis, Kirk dismissed concerns, saying that of the "47 million they tell you" are uninsured, "they're including illegal aliens. Do you think the taxpayers should pay for healthcare for illegal aliens? Well that knocks 15 million off right there." However, the National Institute for Health Care Management reports that approximately 5.6 million illegal immigrants are currently without health insurance. [Mark Kirk, Wheeling Township Republican Meeting, 5/12/08; "Understanding the Uninsured," National Institute for Health Care Management, April 2008]

Voted For The Fence:

2005: Kirk Supported the Construction of a Fence Along the U.S./Mexico Border. Kirk voted against the Farr, D-CA, amendment to HR 418. The amendment struck language in the bill that authorized the Homeland Security secretary to waive laws impeding construction of physical barriers and roads designed to curb illegal border crossings, including completion of a fortified fence along the U.S.-Mexico border close to San Diego, CA. [House Vote 29, HR 418, 2/10/05, Rejected 179-243 R 10-216 D 174-20

Endorsed Discrimination Against Arabs:

Kirk endorsed the idea of racial profiling at airports. He stated that “some Arab men from terrorist-producing countries” should be given more intense scrutiny because they look like and fit the profile of the 9/11 terrorists.  Kirk stood by his comments despite Arab-American groups’ attempts to convince him to apologize.  The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) attacked the idea and many letters to the editor criticized the proposal for its threat to civil liberties.  (Chicago Tribune, 11/28/05; Chicago Tribune, 12/5/05; Chicago Sun-Times, 12/15/05]

Voted To Make All Illegal Immigrants Felons:

Kirk Voted to Make Illegal Immigrants Felons. Kirk voted for HR 4437. The bill tightened border security and increased enforcement of immigration laws. It designated unlawful presence, in addition to illegal migration as a criminal, rather than a civil, offense. It also increased penalties for a variety of immigration-related crimes. It created a mandatory program under which all employers would have to verify employees’ work eligibility with the federal government. [House Vote 661, HR 4437, 12/16/05, Passed 239-182 R 203-17 D 36-164]