Rep. Mike Lawler has been a vocal opponent of policies that limit when local police may cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, arguing those rules can prevent the removal of dangerous criminals from the U.S.
But does he support the arrest and deportation of people whose only offense is an immigration violation? After all, 74% of the nearly 8,500 immigrants arrested by federal agents in New York over less than eight months this year had no criminal convictions or pending charges, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement data.
That was one of the questions the second-term Republican fielded in an hour-long interview with members of The Journal News Editorial Board and a reporter on Monday, Oct. 12, with just three weeks to go
in a tight re-election race. Lawler and Democratic challenger Cait Conley, an Army combat veteran and former national security official, are battling for a Hudson Valley swing seat that will help set the balance of power in Washington for the next two years.
The Journal News interviewed both candidates separately as they enter their final stretch of campaigning before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Lawler, a Rockland County native who has represented New York's 17th Congressional District since 2023, fleshed out his views on immigration, the Iran war, energy policies and reforming Congress in response to the questions. He also reprised one of his main campaign pitches by touting his bipartisan bill work and success in getting legislation passed.
Here are some of the positions he took:
Lawler on immigration
Lawler has taken a softer line on undocumented immigrants than some in his party by co-sponsoring the bipartisan Dignity Act, which would grant legal status to those who came to the U.S. before 2021 and committed no serious crimes — if they pay a $7,000 fine and meet other conditions. The bill has been pending in Congress for more than three years.
When asked about deporting non-criminals, Lawler questioned the ICE statistic that was cited and suggested deportation may be in order in some cases, such as when the person has previously had their case heard by a judge and been issued a deportation order. He also argued that too many people were granted asylum without scrutiny of their claims during the Biden administration — and should be expelled as a result.
"You actually have to understand what each individual case is," Lawler said. "You have people that may be here on an asylum claim that's just not legitimate. The Biden administration was telling everybody, just apply for asylum"
He did say he supports "a legal pathway for individuals who have been in the country long term, whose children and grandchildren are probably American citizens." He also said he opposes mass deportation — or "blanketly rounding people up" — and supports certain reforms on how ICE agents have been operating, including a mask ban, mandatory body cameras and identifiable uniforms.
Lawler on the Iran war
Lawler, a staunch supporter of the Iran war that President Donald Trump launched with Israel in February, was asked if his view of the war has changed as it has dragged on, and if he eventually may withdraw his support if it continues. High gas and diesel prices have been one of its enduring tolls, with New Yorkers paying more than $4 a gallon for gas since early April and prices higher than $4.50 in Westchester County since early September.
On this his response was unequivocal.
"My view on Iran has not changed," he said. "They cannot possess a nuclear weapon. "
He argued the war accomplished other aims in the first six weeks by destroying much of Iran's missile and drone capacity and killing many of its leaders. He touted the economic pain that the war is causing Iran and predicted it will conclude after the Nov. 3 midterm elections — while praising Trump for resisting pressure to "back down" before then for political gain.
"This needs to be finished," Lawler said. "We want this to come to an end. We want gas prices to come down, of course. But I'm not willing to jeopardize our national security for a political victory."
Lawler on energy policy
Lawler was asked about balancing energy needs against the dangers of climate change, and when to start decreasing the use of natural gas — one of the fossil fuels creating planet-warming gases. Lawler has advocated for more gas drilling and piping as part of an all-of-the-above boost in energy production, along with nuclear power and renewable energy sources.
Lawler started by saying he believes in climate change. But he then cast gas-fired power plants as beneficial to that environmental cause, saying they have reduced carbon emissions more than renewable sources — solar, wind, hydro — have done because they replaced coal plants that cause much more air pollution.
"And the reality is, there's not enough solar panels and wind turbines in this country to generate the level of electricity you need," he said. "Seventy percent of electricity nationwide is generated by natural gas."
Lawler on congressional reform
Lawler offered several prescriptions for a hyper-partisan, self-dealing Congress: term limits, a stock-trading ban and a gerrymandering ban.
He supports a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit House members to three terms (a total of six years) and senators to two (12 years). He voted for a bill that would bar new stock purchases by Congress members and their families, and told The Journal News he supports an outright stock ban that would apply to the president and executive branch as well.
A rash of states have redrawn their House maps for partisan advantage — an old ploy known as gerrymandering —over the last year to seize an advantage in the coming elections. Lawler supports a national ban on politically motivated redistricting, arguing that the multiplication of seats safely in one party's hands is fostering extremism in Congress.
"There needs to be more competitive districts," he said.
Chris McKenna covers government and politics for The Journal News and USA TODAY Network. Reach him at CMcKenna@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Mike Lawler talks ICE, Iran, fixing Congress with The Journal News
