Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Spadea publicly reaffirmed his long-standing support for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants during a Republican primary debate Wednesday night, aligning with moderate rival Jon Bramnick on the issue and sparking pushback from fellow contenders and conservative activists.
In a tense exchange Tuesday night, Bramnick argued that immigrants who have lived in the United States for decades should have a means to gain legal status.
“People [have] been here 25 years – why isn’t there a path to citizenship?” Bramnick said. Spadea replied, “Actually, Jon, I agree with you on that, and that’s the ad Ciattarelli’s lying about – because he cut the question I was asked.”
Ciattarelli confirmed that as governor, he would work with the Trump administration’s policies on illegal migrants and cooperate with the federal government on matters of illegal immigration.
Spadea clarified that his position refers to immigrants who entered legally but later fell out of legal status, for overstaying visas or other legal troubles that might have conflicted with their legal status.
“Here’s the question – if you were here legally on a visa but you ran afoul of our system, should you have a pathway – and of course my answer is yes,” Spadea said during a moment of crosstalk.
Carlos Cruz, spokesman for the conservative group Kitchen Table Conservatives, sharply criticized Spadea’s comments, calling them confirmation of a broader pattern.
“Tonight, Bill Spadea confirmed for the world that he backs amnesty for illegal immigrants, and that conservatives can’t trust him to fight for America First principles,” Cruz said.
Spadea also faced criticism from debate participants for disputing past accusations made by fellow candidate Jack Ciattarelli, who had cited Spadea’s past remarks as evidence of support for amnesty.
Key points
- Spadea agreed with Jon Bramnick during Tuesday’s debate on creating a pathway to citizenship for long-term undocumented immigrants.
- Spadea has publicly supported aspects of immigration reform since 2004, including opposition to mass deportations and a physical border wall.
- Conservative critics argue Spadea’s stance shows he cannot be trusted to uphold strict immigration enforcement policies.
Background on Spadea’s immigration stance
Spadea’s comments on the debate stage are consistent with positions he has publicly taken for over two decades.
In 2004, he first endorsed some form of amnesty for undocumented immigrants. Throughout the Trump administration, Spadea maintained his view on his radio and television platforms, frequently arguing for leniency toward visa overstays.
In previous interviews and policy statements, Spadea suggested that Republicans should consider offering a path to legal status in exchange for other border security measures.
He dismissed the feasibility of mass deportations, calling such efforts a “fantasy.”
President Donald J. Trump is currently making Spadea’s ‘fantasy’ a reality, deporting hundreds of thousands of criminal migrants who have run afoul with the legal process since taking office in January.
During the debate, Spadea pushed back against claims that he supports unchecked immigration.