Georgia Republican Senate Candidate Derek Dooley Suggests He Supports Allowing Illegal Migrants to Stay in U.S.

May 22, 2026
1:07 pm

▶

Listen to Article

In a move that should set off alarm bells for every Second Amendment supporter in Georgia, Republican Senate candidate Derek Dooley just signaled he’s “very sensitive” to both sides of the illegal immigration debate, leaving the distinct impression he’s open to letting millions of unlawful entrants remain in the country. This isn’t some nuanced policy discussion. When a GOP hopeful starts talking about being sensitive to “both sides” on border security, it usually means the rule of law takes a backseat to emotional appeals and future voting blocs. For the firearms community, that should be a five-alarm fire. Illegal immigration and the Second Amendment are inextricably linked through the undeniable reality that sanctuary policies, overwhelmed federal resources, and waves of unvetted individuals correlate strongly with spikes in violent crime, including gun-related offenses in multiple states. Dooley’s comments come as Georgia continues to absorb the downstream consequences of a porous southern border that has strained law enforcement, schools, hospitals, and yes, the criminal justice system. Second Amendment advocates understand that the right to keep and bear arms exists first and foremost as a defense against chaos when government fails in its basic duty to secure the border and enforce immigration law. Every time another city or county becomes a de facto sanctuary, it increases pressure on lawful gun owners who watch their tax dollars fund services for people who bypassed the legal process entirely. Studies and crime data from Texas to New York have repeatedly shown elevated rates of criminality among certain illegal immigrant cohorts, including offenses involving firearms. A Senate candidate who can’t firmly say that illegal means illegal, and that deportation is the proper remedy, is signaling he may be soft on the very policies that keep law-abiding citizens in a position where they must rely on their Second Amendment rights for protection. The broader implication for Georgia’s gun owners is clear: this race just became a litmus test. We cannot afford another Republican In Name Only who talks tough on the campaign trail but folds when it comes to securing the border and removing criminal aliens. The Second Amendment community has watched for years as progressive open-border policies import both the criminals and the political pressure to disarm law-abiding Americans in the name of “safety.” Derek Dooley’s sensitivity to “both sides” sounds an awful lot like the same rhetoric that gave us catch-and-release, sanctuary cities, and record fentanyl deaths. Georgia conservatives, and especially those who cherish their constitutional right to self-defense, should demand far more than vague sensitivity from a candidate seeking to represent them in the United States Senate.

Best FFL Software Ranked and Compared!

Dooley’s comments come as Georgia continues to absorb the downstream consequences of a porous southern border that has strained law enforcement, schools, hospitals, and yes, the criminal justice system. Second Amendment advocates understand that the right to keep and bear arms exists first and foremost as a defense against chaos when government fails in its basic duty to secure the border and enforce immigration law. Every time another city or county becomes a de facto sanctuary, it increases pressure on lawful gun owners who watch their tax dollars fund services for people who bypassed the legal process entirely. Studies and crime data from Texas to New York have repeatedly shown elevated rates of criminality among certain illegal immigrant cohorts, including offenses involving firearms. A Senate candidate who can’t firmly say that illegal means illegal, and that deportation is the proper remedy, is signaling he may be soft on the very policies that keep law-abiding citizens in a position where they must rely on their Second Amendment rights for protection.

The broader implication for Georgia’s gun owners is clear: this race just became a litmus test. We cannot afford another Republican In Name Only who talks tough on the campaign trail but folds when it comes to securing the border and removing criminal aliens. The Second Amendment community has watched for years as progressive open-border policies import both the criminals and the political pressure to disarm law-abiding Americans in the name of “safety.” Derek Dooley’s sensitivity to “both sides” sounds an awful lot like the same rhetoric that gave us catch-and-release, sanctuary cities, and record fentanyl deaths. Georgia conservatives, and especially those who cherish their constitutional right to self-defense, should demand far more than vague sensitivity from a candidate seeking to represent them in the United States Senate.

Share this story