Tonight the Univision moderators have been pointed, preventing both Sanders and Clinton from dancing around questions. Jorge Ramos made no exception when he asked each candidate to promise they would not deport undocumented immigrant children.
“My priorities are to deport violent criminals, terrorists, and anyone who threatens our safety,” Clinton said, adding that she has a different stance than the Obama administration on immigration. After a follow-up from Ramos, Clinton promised she would not deport children. At a Democratic forum in January, Clinton wasn’t as committed. “I would give every person, but particularly children, due process and have their story told. And a lot of children will of course have very legitimate stories under our law to be able to stay,” she said then.
Sanders also made the pledge to not deport children, and put distance between his policy and Obama’s. “I happen to agree with President Obama on many, many issues. I think he’s done a great job as a president of the United States. He is wrong on this issue of deportation.” But Sanders’s immigration record is complicated as well; he voted against immigration reform in 2007.