Part I: Where Republicans in 7th Congressional District race stand on immigration, foreign affairs
The three candidates gave their views at three recent forums
Republicans running to unseat incumbent Democrat Susan Wild in the 7th Congressional District have participated in at least three public forums where they shared their views on major campaign issues.
Kevin Dellicker, a business owner and veteran from Heidelberg Township, state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie of Lower Macungie Township and Maria Montero, a lawyer who lives in Easton, are facing each other in the primary on April 23.
The three candidates participated in two televised forums, one on “Business Matters” on WFMZ-TV that was taped in February and aired in two parts on March 11 and 18, and one in Carbon County that took place on March 4 and was shown on Blue Ridge TV-13. They also addressed the Lehigh Valley Tea Party at the group’s January meeting.
In this post, Armchair Lehigh Valley looks at their answers on immigration and foreign affairs. Part II looks at their views on domestic policies. You can read it here.
Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
Immigration
Dellicker said the Southern border is “our most pressing and urgent national security issue right now” during WFMZ’s “Business Matters.” He said he supports building a Mexican border wall and believes people entering the country illegally “should be deported.” He said “it's important that we as a society … don’t cut off immigration. I'm pro-immigration, but I'm pro legal immigration. We need to have people come into our country, but on American terms with America first and according to the rules that we set.”
Mackenzie said his “top priority [would be] building the wall and securing our border.” He also believes people who cross the border illegally should not be given a path to citizenship. Mackenzie told the Tea Party forum that “crime, drugs” are a result of President Biden’s “open borders” policies. He cited the 2019 passage of a bill he wrote, the Construction Industry Employee Verification Act, as an example of how he would tackle the problem. It requires construction companies to run potential employees through the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify program to check their eligibility for employment.
Montero said people who cross the Southern border illegally should not be granted “amnesty,” which means a pardon for unlawful entry. Asylum is what immigrants seek when lawfully presenting themselves at the border. In fiscal year 2023, the U.S. had a record 2.5 million “encounters” at the border, which included people seeking legal entry and crossing the border illegally. “It's so important for our economy … it's really important that you follow the law,” she said on “Business Matters.”
At the Carbon forum, she said she doesn’t believe border security funding should be tied to a Ukraine aid package. Montero told the Lehigh Valley Tea Party that President Biden’s border policies are responsible for shootings in Allentown and an increase in deaths from fentanyl. “Fentanyl, drugs. It has to stop. And the way we do that is with a strong border,” she said.
Russia-Ukraine
The three candidates were questioned on whether the U.S. should be sending additional aid to Ukraine. President Biden’s proposal to send $60 billion worth of aid to Ukraine has been stalled by Republicans in Congress.
Dellicker said he does not support sending additional aid to Ukraine and would rather the U.S. spend money on border security and replenishing weapons and equipment for the U.S. military. During the “Business Matters” debate, he said, “I do not support additional cash to Ukraine.” But he does support Ukraine fighting against Russia. “They're doing a heroic job of trying to fend off Putin's invasion,” Dellicker said.
Mackenzie said “we should not be providing additional aid to Ukraine,” and that funding should go to border security and infrastructure. He said “we need to be focused on America first” during the WFMZ debate. He added that he believes America needs to end its involvement in “forever wars.”
Montero said she wants to “spend that money right here in the United States and protect our vets.” During the WFMZ debate, she said that “Russia is a major threat to America's independence.” To counter the threat, she proposes producing more gas and oil in the U.S. “It's because I believe in … energy independence and that's how we fight Russia. We make sure that we drill, we make sure that we produce gas, and that's gonna protect our interest,” she said.
Israel-Hamas
Dellicker, pointing out Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, said Israel needs “space” to take out “Hamas leadership and [render] that organization incapable of launching further attacks.” He criticized Wild’s position, and said Israel needs to “finish the job.” Wild has been critical of Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu’s response to the attack and the subsequent war in Gaza. In an interview with The Morning Call in January, Wild said she still supports Israel and called for an “indefinite cessation of hostilities” to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza. She added Israel should focus on efforts to return the hostages that are held by Hamas.
Mackenzie reiterated his support for Israel on WFMZ. He said Hamas is a “terrorist organization” and said he supports Israel’s fight against the group. He said it is too early to talk about a cease-fire. He added that the Israeli hostages should be returned and “once that occurs, then they can discuss a cessation or bringing down hostilities.”
Montero said that she recognizes “how important Israel is as our ally and how important it is to have a strong Israel for Middle East peace.” But she also reiterated her American first viewpoint, saying on “Business Matters” that “sending [Israel] more money or troops is not the answer.”
China
At the “Business Matters” forum, Dellicker said China is “the number one national security threat that we face.” He added that the military needs more investment to be able to “stand up and deter China.” He said the U.S. should focus on countering China’s efforts to become the world’s superpower. Dellicker said the Chinese Communist Party is “our enemy” and said we should “treat them as such.” At the Lehigh Valley Tea Party event, he said that Congress does not know “how to modernize our military and get it ready for China.”
Mackenzie described China as “the main strategic competitor” to the U.S. At the “Business Matters” forum, he blamed government policies for “letting [China] take our jobs and ship our jobs overseas for years.” He said the U.S. should “lead with realism and restraint” and not get involved in another conflict.
During the “Business Matters” forum, Montero said that “communism is evil and it must be destroyed.” She blamed the country for “infiltrating [the U.S.] with fentanyl.” She also accused China of “infiltrating” social media and buying farmland. She said the “Covid-19 pandemic came from China.” If elected, she said she would make sure the U.S. is protected from the “threat” of China.
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