Lindsey Graham on Immigration
TL;DR
Lindsey Graham strongly advocates for heightened border security, increased deportations, and penalizing sanctuary cities he views as undermining law and order.
Key Points
He led a March 2026 hearing focused on the 'Costs & Dangers of Sanctuary City Policies,' claiming they endanger public safety by releasing criminals.
The Senator supports citizenship for DACA enrollees contingent on funding for a border wall, and historically supported versions of the DREAM Act.
His Secure and Protect Act of 2019 included a provision to allow families to be held in detention for up to 100 days.
Summary
Lindsey Graham maintains a firm stance on immigration focused on border security and stricter enforcement, viewing policies in sanctuary jurisdictions as a significant problem. He has chaired hearings to highlight the dangers of these policies, citing statistics on released criminals and the financial burden of welfare programs on taxpayers. The Senator stresses that the nation will not resolve illegal immigration until the underlying issues, such as policies that create magnets for future illegal entry, are addressed.
His position reflects an evolution toward stricter enforcement, particularly after the second term of the former president, where he supported a mass deportation strategy and urged Congress to fund it. While historically showing a willingness to consider pathways to citizenship for some long-term undocumented immigrants, his current position predicates reform on securing the border first. He stresses stiff penalties for those who cross illegally and supports provisions to change the asylum process, preferring applications be filed at centers outside the U.S.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lindsey Graham is currently focused heavily on addressing sanctuary city policies, which he views as undermining federal law and public safety. He stresses that without addressing these local policies, the overall illegal immigration system cannot be fixed.
The Senator has shown an evolution in his public stance; while previously supporting a pathway to citizenship for some law-abiding undocumented immigrants, he now predicates reform on achieving stronger border security first. Following the second term inauguration of the former president, he endorsed a mass deportation strategy.
The Senator is a consistent supporter of the border wall, though he has acknowledged that a wall alone will not fix the entirety of U.S. immigration policy. He supported the former president's efforts to fund and build the barrier during his first term.