Vivek Ramaswamy on Immigration and Dreamers: “No Right to Stay If Laws Were Broken” [Video]

In a recent interview with ABC’s Jon Karl, Vivek Ramaswamy made clear his stance on immigration, specifically addressing the “Dreamers”—young people who entered the U.S. as children without documentation. When asked about their fears of deportation, Ramaswamy said that those who initially entered the country illegally do not have a right to stay.

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The discussion comes as many Dreamers worry about stricter immigration policies, especially in the context of President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign promises. In the interview, Karl highlighted stories of Dreamers who have grown up in the United States, completed their education, and built lives here, expressing fear about potential deportation.

Ramaswamy, who identifies as the son of legal immigrants, stressed his support for a stricter immigration policy. “If your first act of entering this country broke the law, that doesn’t allow you to remain in this country,” he stated. He compared the nation to a body, emphasizing that migration should only occur with “consent” and that such consent should be granted only to migrants who, in his view, benefit the U.S.

Karl continued to press Ramaswamy on Dreamers who have built lives and families in the U.S., but Ramaswamy maintained that he would “restore the rule of law.” He suggested separating the issues of Dreamers and legal immigration, saying that undocumented people who entered recently or who have criminal records should be deported as a first step. He also proposed cutting off government aid for undocumented immigrants, which he argued would lead to “self-deportations.”

Expanding his critique to the federal government, Ramaswamy argued for what he called a “mass deportation” of “unelected federal bureaucrats.” While not referring to physical deportation, Ramaswamy’s point emphasized his broader vision of removing what he described as entrenched government officials who operate without public accountability.