Democratic Presidential Contenders Differ on Key Policies

Democrats vying for their party's nomination to challenge President Donald Trump in the 2020 U.S. election in November agree — and disagree — on many critical issues and topics of importance to Americans. VOA has compiled a rundown of five candidates' positions on immigration, trade policy and America's future in Afghanistan.

Immigration

Joe Biden

• Opposes eliminating criminal border crossing penalties.
• Vows to direct federal resources to “smart” border enforcement efforts to improve screening infrastructure at ports of entry.
• Favors providing health care coverage to immigrants.
• Supports path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, known as Dreamers, brought to the U.S. as children.
• Supports accepting at least 110,000 refugees a year.
• Favors a path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants living in the country.

Pete Buttigieg

• Favors providing options for undocumented immigrants to buy health coverage.
• Opposes eliminating criminal border crossing penalties.
• Supports a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.
• Favors the reinstatement of immigration enforcement priorities with an emphasis on removing people who pose a danger to the community.
• Supports limited border barriers but prefers deploying technology to enhance border security.
• Supports a comprehensive review of Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Amy Klobuchar

• Wants to prioritize comprehensive immigration reform and pass it in the first year.
• Will undo any guideline by the Trump administration that aimed to deport Dreamers and immigrants who are living under any Temporary Protected Status or Deferred Enforcement Departure.
• Reopen international USCIS offices to deal with international adoptions, family visa petitions, among others.
• Against decriminalizing unauthorized migrant crossings.
• Favors border barrier construction if paired with a path to citizenship for some undocumented immigrants.

Bernie Sanders

• Repeal criminal penalties for those apprehended trying to cross the border. Sanders would reserve criminal prosecution for those who pose security threats.
• Vows to tear down the U.S.-Mexico border wall. Wants to invest in technology to fight drug and human trafficking.
• Reform immigration enforcement system, including breaking up ICE and CBP and redistributing their functions.
• Halt most deportations, which Sanders call cruel and inhumane.
• Reunite families that have been separated.
• Supports a family-based immigration system grounded in civil and human rights.

Elizabeth Warren

• Favors a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. Those already enrolled in a program crafted by the Obama administration to shield Dreamers from deportation would also be covered.
• "Reshape” CBP and ICE and reduce immigration detention.
• Favors providing health care to immigrants under a proposed program to provide universal, government-funded coverage.
• Allow more refugees into the United States and create an office of New Americans.
• Vows to tear down physical barriers erected along the U.S.-Mexico border under President Trump.
• Would decriminalize unauthorized border crossings.

Trade

Joe Biden

• Supports the revised NAFTA/USMCA deal.
• Opposes most tariffs.
• Supports joining Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
• Wants to confront China's trade practices without inviting trade wars.
• Wants to enforce existing trade laws and invest in American workers and communities.

Pete Buttigieg

• Does not support the use of tariffs to pressure countries.
• Supports the Trump administration’s confrontation of China's trade practices but also hopes to work with China.
• Supports the revised NAFTA/USMCA deal.
• Opposes rejoining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Amy Klobuchar

• Favors tariffs to pressure certain countries with unfair trade practices.
• Supports the revised NAFTA/USMCA deal.
• Favors working with allies like Japan and the European Union to confront China's trading practices.
• Wants to restore travel to and trade with Cuba.
• Supports the federal government “aggressively” combating Chinese steel dumping.
• Favors tougher enforcement of trade laws, including increased inspections of steel imports at ports of entry.

Bernie Sanders

• Supports a full review of tariffs against China.
• Wants to rewrite all trade deals.
• In favor of an executive order to end federal contracts to corporations that outsource American jobs.
• Says U.S. tariffs can be an effective tool to protect American workers and incentivize nations to adopt better labor and environmental practices.
• Wants to expand Buy American, Buy Local and other government policies to increase jobs in the U.S.

Elizabeth Warren

• End closed-door trade negotiations heavily influenced by corporate interests.
• Wants environmental, consumer and labor representatives to outnumber corporate interests on trade advisory committees.
• Plans to overhaul U.S. trade policy toward China.
• Creation of a “non-sustainable economy” designation to allow the U.S. to impose tougher penalties on countries with poor labor and environmental practices.
• Supports the Paris Climate Agreement and wants countries to eliminate domestic fuel subsidies as a precondition for entering trade negotiations with the United States.

Afghanistan

Joe Biden

• Favors maintaining a U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan

Pete Buttigieg

• Favors bringing U.S. troops home without delay.

Amy Klobuchar

• Vows to bring most U.S. troops home by the end of her first term but is open to keeping a limited troop presence in Afghanistan.

Bernie Sanders

• Supports withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

Elizabeth Warren

• Vows to bring U.S. troops home from Afghanistan in her first term.

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