The gubernatorial race reveals stark differences between the candidates.

As thousands of migrants march their way up through Mexico intent on overrunning our Southern order, the issue of illegal immigration has become center stage in the race for governor of Michigan as Republican Bill Schuette hammers away at his opponent, Democrat candidate Gretchen Whitmer, and her radical support for dismantling America’s borders.

Whitmer’s support for open borders (a euphemism for ‘no borders’), sanctuary cities, and amnesty became even more evident last week as the two candidates faced off in a debate. Schuette’s positions were clear and rock solid. He boldly said that if elected, there will be “no sanctuary cities in Michigan.” Whitmer, on the other hand, has advocated for the undoing and abolishing of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE), and her extremist running mate, Detroit activist Garlin Gilchrist, suggested that the Department of Homeland Security should be removed, a move that would leave America unprotected.

In the past, Whitmer has said that open borders were “fundamental” to who we are as Americans. She has promised to sue the federal government to have National Guard troops removed from our Southern Border. But this past week, when confronted with her position on critical issues, Whitmer dodged and weaved, refusing to answer questions about her support for harboring criminal aliens in sanctuary cities, instead pivoting to claims that Mr. Schuette’s positions were “extreme.”

If a candidate Whitmer refuses to articulate her position plainly and honestly, the people of Michigan can not trust her on this and all other issues. She’s afraid to tell the truth about her extreme positions on immigration and borders because it’s at odds with the common sense of most Michiganders.

One can be pro-immigrant and pro-border at the same time. However, inviting illegal aliens into the Great Lake State would have an immense negative impact on local economies. Schools in border states are forced to spend precious resources on illegal immigration, many of whom do not even speak English, putting American children on second-class citizen status.

Illegal immigrants force down wages and stifle economic growth. What’s more, illegals are a strain on hard-working taxpayers (natural born and immigrant alike). Taxpayers, naturally, bear the brunt of the burden as millions of dollars are shifted away from programs designed to help the indigent and poor, to those that house, feed, and educate those who crossed the border without regard for the rules.

Likewise, as we have seen in other states like California, sanctuary cities harbor criminal illegal aliens from law enforcement, driving up crime rates, particularly identity theft and human trafficking, including sex trafficking.

Polls in Michigan show the race for both Governor and Senate, where John James, a conservative black veteran is taking on long-term incumbent Debbie Stabenow, are tightening. James has cut Stabenow’s lead from double digits down to seven points. Likewise, Schuette’s emphasis on law and order and immigration enforcement is closing the gap.

Michigan voters were vital in electing Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States. Mr. Trump’s call for border enforcement and protection, job growth, and economic opportunity played favorably with critical blue collar, union Democrats who play a significant role in the state’s electorate. Schuette’s emphasis on issues like border security is a crucial issue for many of these voters, many of whom do not want to go back to the days of law enforcement being told to ‘stand down’ on immigration enforcement.

Whitmer’s radical support for open borders, abolishing ICE, and sanctuary cities is nothing short of a carbon copy of the playbooks found in the offices of Democratic Socialist darlings Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders – these radical politicians do not represent the Michigan values of fairness and hard-work.

And so, it seems clear that during the final days of the campaign, Schuette’s promise to enforce the law and protect Michiganders jobs will have a positive impact on the outcome of the election, just as it should.

Jerry Rogers is the founder of Capitol Allies, an independent, nonpartisan effort that promotes free enterprise. He’s the co-host of The LangerCast on the RELM Network. Twitter: @CapitolAllies.

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