Immigration remained a hot and divisive topic in the 2008 Presidential election. Senator John McCain's Immigration Reform plan prioritized border security within the United States. His plan also included constructing a fence along the Mexican border and offering monetary assistance to border states. During the Presidential debate, McCain stated he intended to implement measures that would allow employers to verify the immigration status of their employees, and prosecute employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

Senator John McCain’s stance on immigration received a lot of attention in the media throughout the presidential debates, and speculation emerged indicating that he" flip-flopped” his stance on immigration reform policies. To the dismay of some of his supporters, in 2007 Senator McCain supported President Bush’s comprehensive immigration reform bill, which offered a path to citizenship for individuals residing in the United States illegally. The Senator was recently asked if he would still vote for Bush’s reform bill. McCain replied, “No, I would not ... because we know what the situation is today ... that people want the borders secured first."

Senator McCain’s official website reveals more specific details of his two-step immigration reform plan, which is highlighted below:

• First priority would be to secure the border through “physical and virtual barriers”
• Implement an electronic verification system so that individuals can easily be screened for employment eligibility
• Prosecute employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants
• Execute temporary worker programs so that the labor needs of the United States are met, without taking away employment opportunities for American workers
• Address those living in the country illegally by requiring them to enroll in a program to resolve their immigration status; background checks will be performed and criminal individuals will face deportation and prosecution
• Undocumented immigrants with no criminal convictions will be required to learn English, pass a citizenship exam, and pay taxes and fines

In June, 2008, McCain held a private meeting with Hispanic leaders in the Chicago-Illinois area. The Associated Press reports that McCain assured the group that he would advocate for comprehensive immigration reform if he is elected president in 2008. A representative from Senator Barack Obama’s Presidential campaign remarked on McCain’s stance on immigration: “It's hard for me to understand how you can sit in front of 150 Hispanic leaders in Chicago and leave them with the impression that you support comprehensive immigration reform. How you can say that you didn't intend to vote for your own bill?"

McCain maintains that his change in stance is just a change in priorities. After the 2007 legislation failed he learned about “the priorities of the American people” and the importance of securing the border. Senator McCain has stated: "I will secure the border first. That's what Americans want. They don't want a repeat of 1986 when we said we'd secure the border, gave amnesty to 2 million people and we ended up with insecure borders and more illegal people here,"

Some speculated that both Barack Obama and John McCain share similar views on immigration reform. Obama and McCain both have spoken about their intentions of securing US borders, creating a path towards citizenship for the 12 million undocumented immigrants who are estimated to be living in the United States, and introducing strict penalties for those who hire illegal immigrants. However, the steps in achieving immigration reform differ between the candidates. On November 4, 2008, Senator John McCain lost the presidential election to Barack Obama.