Senate hopeful calls on U.S. to 'practically close' borders

JONESBORO -- Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Curtis Coleman of North Little Rock said he favored "practically closing our borders" to control immigration into the U.S. and criticized the voting stance his primary opponent, John Boozman, has taken on the issue.

Coleman, who spoke to about 75 people Friday at the Northeast Arkansas Political Animals luncheon at the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, said he also opposes allowing into the U.S. any migrants from countries known to export terrorist cells. The Political Animals is a Republican-based group that holds monthly meetings.

Coleman, a Little Rock businessman, is challenging incumbent Boozman in the Republican primary on March 1. The winner will face former U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge, a Democrat, and former Tull Mayor Frank Gilbert, a Libertarian.

"We will never solve [immigration problems] until we practically close our borders," Coleman said.

Coleman said he also favored a comprehensive vetting project that would identify potential immigrants from countries that trained terrorists. He said Boozman voted against legislation that would have created the screening process.

Chris Caldwell, Boozman's campaign manager, said Boozman voted against legislation that would have blocked entry into the U.S. for anyone from more than 30 countries, including those that have been steadfast allies against the Islamic State.

"Senator Boozman and Senator [Tom] Cotton both voted against this wrongheaded approach because it does not get to the root of the problem," Caldwell said Friday evening in an email.

Caldwell said Boozman and Cotton jointly proposed calling for a moratorium on the resettlement of all Syrian refugees weeks before the vote to which Coleman referred.

"Senator Boozman is one of the strongest advocates for border security in Congress," Caldwell said. "His lifetime A+ grade with NumbersUSA backs that up."

Coleman said he first refused to run for the Senate and considered Boozman a friend. But after studying Boozman's voting records, Coleman opted to seek the seat.

"There were things he did that bothered me," Coleman said of Boozman. "He voted seven times to raise the debt ceiling. A debt ceiling means 'stop.'

"His voting record is atrocious. It's not that of a conservative Arkansan. We do not need to send him back to Washington."

Coleman said he intended to campaign heavily in the next several weeks, and workers will knock on "60,000 doors" by early voting in February.

"I will fight," Coleman said. "I will fight to give you federal government small enough to fit inside the Constitution."

State Desk on 01/16/2016

Upcoming Events