(Sorry for how long this is!)

1. I don’t believe illegals should automatically gain citizenship. That should be handled on a case to case basis that considers reason they came here, ability/motivation to work (maybe they want to provide for family back home?), their living conditions back home, threats of violence/death, etc.

2. Yes! A recent study found that Undocumented immigrants pay an average of $11.64 billion in state and local taxes a year. On average, an undocumented individual has about 8% of their income go to taxes. Moreover, all immigrants—regardless of status—will contribute approximately $80,000 more in taxes than government services used over their lifetime.

3. No, I have not. But I do know immigrants that are here illegally and immigrants that came here illegally then went back to Mexico (for months, sometimes years, which can be quite dangerous) and became citizens the right way.

4. The laws should be reformed. I’d refer you to my answer to question #1. It should be decided on a case by case basis. It needs to be noted that the current administration has reduced the number of asylum seekers/refugees we accept each year. Also, the vast majority of the ports of entry between Mexico & the U.S. are controlled by the Cartels. They decide who crosses and who doesn’t and Asylum seekers are often forced to either pay ridiculous amounts of money to Cartels to go through the port (legally), be liked or approved by the Cartel (we probably don’t want those people) or asylum seeks are forced to cross the border illegally, where they were separated from their children and arrested.

5. I believe separating children from their parents is (OBVIOUSLY!) immoral & wrong. I would point you to the various verses in the Bible that refer to the right way to treat foreigners, refugees, the stranger, etc. We have seen not only other countries criticize us for this, but the Pope has also spoken out against the practice as well as the United Methodist Church considering putting Jeff Sessions on trail by the church and potentially removing him from membership.