Graham Visits Illinois To Push Immigration Reform

John Gregory - Illinois Radio Network

A Republican presidential candidate in need of a boost in national polls visits Illinois to talk immigration reform.

At a Chicago event hosted by the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said a presidential win would give him a mandate to pursue comprehensive immigration, including a pathway to citizenship. He says a different form of legal status isn’t good enough.

“If you’re going to stay here all your life, I want you to have a pathway to being a citizen, because I hate the European model of the hired help,” Graham said. “I don’t want millions of people here as the outsider looking in.”

Graham is logging behind in the crowded field of Republican presidential hopefuls, and sits well below the threshold needed for inclusion in the main debate set for Aug. 6. Graham thinks using poll numbers this early isn’t fair to candidates.

“It rewards those who have run before, who are from large states, and those who are celebrities,” Graham said.

Barring a late surge, Graham will be relegated to an earlier debate on the same day featuring the other Republican candidates who sit further down in the polls.