Immigration

Republicans

Lauzen: Supports securing the borders, both with physical barriers and increased resources; opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants; opposes an ID card; supports deportation of felons; touts his experience and voting record against giving government benefits to illegal immigrants.

Oberweis: Supports securing borders; opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants; opposes granting government benefits to illegal immigrants; supports a worker’s ID card with biometric data to allow employers to check legal status; supports deportation of criminals; wants English as the national language.

Dilger: Supports Sen. John McCain’s immigration reform plan; supports “a barrier of protection” between the U.S. and Mexico.

Democrats

Foster: Promotes combination of border security and workplace enforcement; envisions a biometric card or encrypted cell phone with information that allows employers immediate access to citizenship and employment status.

Laesch: Supports a probationary path toward citizenship that allows undocumented immigrants to come forward, pass a background check and apply for legal status; does not support amnesty or biometric ID programs; would renegotiate free trade agreements with an eye on fair trade.

Stein: Wants to modernize the visa system to assist businesses, universities and to keep family members together; promotes a “path to citizenship” for currently undocumented workers; would support temporary worker visas once borders are secured.

Serra: Supports a type of amnesty program that would require undocumented immigrants to admit guilt and pay fines to earn citizenship; doesn’t like fences, but in favor of physical barrier and electronic monitoring of nation’s borders; disagrees with any type of ID card system.