Bonini raises sanctuary state issue in Delaware governor’s race

Republican candidate for governor Colin Bonini wants to make sure the First State doesn’t become a sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants.

State Sen. Colin Bonini doesn’t want Delaware to offer sanctuary to immigrants in the country illegally. He said doing so would make the state a potential refuge for criminals. The Republican candidate for governor is calling on his Democratic opponent, Congressman John Carney to clearly state his position on the issue.

“I think we would become a magnet for illegal immigration and quite frankly a potential refuge for criminal illegal immigration. It’s just bad policy and a bad idea and I have legislation that says Delaware’s not going to do it,” Bonini said. “I don’t view this as anti-immigrant at all, I think illegal immigration is a very real issue.”

He pointed to legislation introduced last session by state Sen. Bryan Townsend, D- Newark. The bill, he said, would have made Delaware a sanctuary state and is evidence of the need for this issue to be discussed between candidates vying to be Delaware’s next governor. 

Bonini’s opponent John Carney responded to Bonini’s comments with an emailed statement. It read:

“The answer to this problem is comprehensive immigration reform.” Carney said that’s what he fought for over the past six year’s he’s been in Congress. “Unfortunately, Republicans have been the main impediment to immigration reform in the Congress.” He said state-by-state legislation is not the answer.

Bonini and Carney will face each other in a debate at the University of Delaware on Wednesday night. You can watch the debate via a livestream at NewsWorks.org/Delaware.