BIRMINGHAM — After landing at Sumpter Smith Air National Guard Base on Tuesday afternoon, Vice President Mike Pence answered a question regarding whether he supported President Donald Trump’s plan to sign an executive order ending birthright citizenship in the United States.
“We’ve got a crisis on our southern border, we’ve got a crisis of illegal immigration,” Pence emphasized.
He outlined that the president just this week made the decision to send 5,200 troops to “reinforce our border” and that Trump was examining all possible ways to combat the “crisis.”
“President Trump and I and our entire administration are absolutely committed to bring this crisis of illegal immigration on our southern border to an end,” Pence added. “It’s building a wall, it’s securing our borders and it’s enforcing our laws, but it also means reforming our laws, engaging in a debate on birthright citizenship, closing the kinds of loopholes like catch and release that again are exploited for vulnerable families.”
Pence concluded by saying, “The American people know, the people of Alabama know that we have to end the crisis of illegal immigration.”
Afterwards, Governor Kay Ivey was asked about the same issue and whether she agreed with Pence.
“I’m all in his court. I believe we need to have fair immigration laws that need to be refined and updated – close the loopholes. We’ve got to protect our borders,” Ivey responded.
You can read Yellowhammer News’ coverage of Pence’s visit with Ivey here.
Pence, after leaving the base, went to a National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) fundraiser at the Westin in downtown Birmingham, where he was joined by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Sen. David Purdue (R-GA). This event was originally scheduled to occur the day after Hurricane Michael struck southeast Alabama.
Then, right next door from the Westin on Tuesday evening, the Business Council of Alabama held its annual Chairman’s Dinner at the Sheraton Birmingham. This year’s featured guest speaker was famed economist Ben Stein.
Ben Stein takes the stage at @BCAToday and opens with “Well, in Birmingham they really do love the Governor.”
Can confirm.#alpolitics pic.twitter.com/xHpGznVnGx— Sean Ross (@sean_yhn) October 31, 2018
Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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