Immigration Hawk Kris Kobach to Run for Governor of Kansas
Immigration enforcement advocate Kris Kobach, now Kansas Secretary of State, has announced that is running for Governor. A controversial figure, Kobach has politically and legally advocated for many tough-on-immigrant measures, including Arizona’s watershed SB 1070 and Hazleton, Pennsylvania‘s ill-fated effort at immigration enforcement. He has provided immigration advice to President Donald Trump.
Kobach’s campaign website states the following on “illegal immigration”:
“Strong borders are essential to our nation and to our State. They are essential to fighting terrorism, essential to fighting crime, and essential to protecting American workers. And the only way to combat a problem as severe as a lawless immigration system is to have action at both the federal and the state level.
Unfortunately, Kansas has become the sanctuary state of the Midwest. We are the only state in the 5-state area that has done nothing to discourage illegal immigration.
This hurts Kansas taxpayers. This puts Kansans’ jobs at risk. And it puts Kansans’ lives at risk. We can solve this problem in Kansas. But it takes leadership and political will. I’ll get the job done.”
One law professor responded to the announcement as follows: “At least he won’t be going to DC any time soon.”
KJ