Originally published by The Hill
A Democratic House candidate in Kentucky wants all immigrants living in the country illegally to be granted amnesty.
Hank Linderman, who is challenging Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) in November, made the call in a statement obtained by the Louisville Courier Journal on Monday.
"I am calling for action to help the millions of undocumented people already working in our communities, serving in our military and raising families by granting amnesty," Linderman said in the statement.
The Democrat said that all “qualified” immigrants living in the country would be granted amnesty as of July 4 if he wins against Guthrie, who has represented the state’s 2nd Congressional District since 2009.
Linderman also called for the restructuring of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and for the federal law enforcement agency’s mission to be refocused as more Democrats call for ICE to be abolished amid an intensifying controversy over President Trump's "zero tolerance" immigration policy, which had led to the separations of hundreds of families.
"The abuses we have seen, including family separations, extended incarcerations and even violent and sexual assault, must stop," Linderman said.
"We are a nation of immigrants," Linderman continued. "To deny this reality is to deny our nation itself."
"Any reform of immigration law and process in the United States must include amnesty for those already living here," Linderman added.
Linderman, a self-employed musician and recording engineer, beat out three other Democratic candidates in the May primary with 30 percent of the vote, according to Courier Journal.
The district hasn’t elected a Democratic representative since Rep. William Natcher, who served from 1953 to 1994, the newspaper reported.
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