Julian Castro crafts plan to grant citizenship path to millions of unauthorized immigrants

[TexasTowelie]

Democratic presidential hopeful Julián Castro on Tuesday unveiled a detailed immigration plan that would offer a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants in the country without authorization. It would also revamp the nation's asylum and detention policies that are in full focus because of the growing migrant crisis at the southern border.

Castro's plan would treat illegal entry into the country as a civil violation, not a criminal violation, according to his campaign.

"The plan would reverse a Bush-era practice that prioritizes treating entry into the United States as a criminal, rather than civil, violation--a provision that has sanctioned many of the most egregious Trump administration immigration practices, such as family separation," according to a Castro campaign news release. "This bold vision would change the way the United States government views migrants entering our nation — not as threats to our national security, as prescribed by antiquated policies of previous administration — but rather as people and families in search of a better life who can contribute tremendously to the fabric of our nation and economy."

But Republican National Committee spokesperson Christiana Purves said Castro's plan to "decriminalize" illegally entering the country was dangerous and a threat to security. She also took a swipe at former El Paso congressman Beto O'Rourke, who is also running for president and making immigration reform a top issue.

Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/elections-2020/2019/04/02/julin-castro-unveils-plan-decriminalize-illegal-immigration-grant-citizenship-path-millions