Clinton and Sanders promise not to deport children, immigrants with no criminal record

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders make promises on immigration

(Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

published 10 March 2016

At Wednesday's CNN/Univision debate, Jorge Ramos asked Hillary Clinton if she would be the "deporter in chief" or if she would promise to not deport children from the U.S., noting that she had failed to make that pledge in two previous conversations. She said, "my priorities are to deport violent criminals, terrorists, and anyone who threatens our safety," but when Ramos pressed her, Clinton appears to have said that yes, she would pledge to deport neither children nor any other illegal immigrant without a criminal record.

Ramos posed the question to Sanders. "I will not deport children from the United States of America," he said. "I can make that promise." Ramos asked about immigrants without criminal records, and Sanders said he would not deport them, either, saying The New York Times has rated his immigration proposal the most progressive of all the candidates.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.