Joe Biden once said that a fence was needed to stop "tons" of drugs from Mexico

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Then-Sen. Biden's earlier comments, which he held in the run-up to the 2008 presidential race, point to an approach to the issue of immigration that could go against the threat of immigration. More liberal wing of the party while Biden seeks the Democratic nomination to face President Donald Trump. in 2020. This also shows how Mr. Biden's long career in government can sometimes contrast with the evolution of the Democratic Party in recent years.

Addressing a rotating club in South Carolina in November 2006, Biden voiced support for the "Secure Fence Act," a bill authorizing 700 km of double-fence on the border with more than 50,000 people. $ 1 billion in credits. The bill was also backed by the Senators of the day. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. CNN's KFile watched the video, which was posted on YouTube at the time.

"People, I voted for a fence, I voted, unlike most Democrats – and some of you will not like it – I voted for 700 km of fence, "Biden told the group. "But let me tell you that we can build a 40-story high fence – unless you change the dynamics in Mexico and – and you will not like that, and – punish American employers who knowingly violate the When they hire people, unless you do those two things, all the rest is just window dressing. "

"Now, I know I'm not supposed to say it so frankly, but it's the facts, it's the facts, so all we do is between the two, all we do is at the margin. why I add this parenthesis, that's why I think the fence is necessary has nothing to do with immigration, any more than drugs, "continued Biden." And let me tell you some Thing, people are crossing this border with tons, tons, listen to me, tons of everything from byproducts for methamphetamine to cocaine to heroin and all of this is going through corrupt Mexico. "

Biden's multi-year record on several issues – including criminal justice and financial regulation – was scrutinized while he was seeking nomination to the Democratic presidency for the third time. Biden, with other candidates such as Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Kamala Harris had to struggle to harmonize her record with a more liberal Democratic party.

But his earlier comments on a border town and sanctuary cities are similar to the positions taken by Trump as president – positions that many Democratic candidates attacked during the campaign.

Andrew Bates, spokesman for Biden, said he believed it was important to work on border security without compromising values ​​and that he opposed the crackdown on cities sanctuaries.

"As Senator Biden said at the time," we can build a 40-story high fence, "but that will not solve the real problems, Vice President Biden says we need to stop Try to scare people and organize a discussion about immigration based on facts, "said Bates. "He thinks we can secure our borders without abandoning our values ​​and that we should do this by tackling the root causes of immigration abroad and working for a comprehensive immigration reform. at home, including a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and to smart border security.He also believes that Trump's approach to administration in matters of freedom of movement. immigration, including the suppression of sanctuary cities, including the disgusting treatment of migrant children, is contrary to our values ​​as a nation. "

More recently, Biden has played the role of technology in securing the border against drugs. At an event held in April, Biden discussed the need to build technological capabilities at legal entry points and collaborate with the countries of origin of some of these drugs, " instead of creating more barriers ".

"I'm not a wise man on the wall and the president, all that, in reality, that's my word," Biden said. "But instead of creating more obstacles, if you're talking about drugs, we can take a tenth of the money we're talking about to build the wall and dramatically increase the technological capability at the points of entry." legal, because that's where 95% of all that goes is coming ".

During the 2008 presidential election, Biden also opposed the granting of driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants – a problem that preoccupied Clinton during the 2008 and 2016 Democratic presidential primaries. His immigration plan also included increased funding for the Border Patrol.
Speaking during a debate in September 2007 at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, Mr Biden said it would not allow so-called sanctuaries to ignore federal law.

"Yes or no, would you allow these cities to ignore the federal law?" Biden was asked. "No," he replied.

At another event in 2007, Biden called for sending undocumented immigrant employers to jail.

"We have to be tougher with the employers – in fact, the person we should be sending to prison is not the illegal ones, we are sending the employers to jail," Biden said. "If you knowingly hire an illegal alien, you should be held responsible because, let me tell you that the next person I hear tells me that my union workers are not willing to work hard, so I want to tell you, you do not know my guys. "

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