NewsNation host Chris Cuomo warned Democrats on Thursday against prioritizing amnesty for illegal immigrants when President Donald Trump pushes for immigration reform.
Prominent Democrats, including former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have signaled support for amnesty. Cuomo, on “The Chris Cuomo Project,” expressed disbelief that Democrats would make amnesty “the big sticking point” in immigration reform negotiations and said they should be ashamed if they do.
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“Now the Democrats have an opportunity. They should be part of comprehensive immigration. And here’s why: That issue helped beat you. You screwed up that issue on [former President Joe] Biden’s watch,” Cuomo said. “You can now take it off the table as things that shows that you are worse. Be part of the solution. Be pragmatic about it. Forget about amnesty. Here’s why: There’s no way they’re going to round up everyone who’s here illegally in this country.”
“Logistically, legally, ethically, it’s a nightmare. It can’t happen. So don’t get stuck on amnesty. Just get into what the realities are going to be of the how … They’re going to have to make choices,” he continued. “And there’s obviously going to be a big group of people who are in this country doing the right thing … that are going to get treated differently than people who are criminals, who are getting in trouble when they’re here, who are doing other things that are seen as less desirable.”
Trump pledged during his 2024 campaign to carry out the largest mass deportation operation in American history. His border czar Tom Homan has underscored a focus on targeting “public safety threats” and “national security threats,” while also making collateral arrests of illegal immigrants who do not pose such threats.
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“And you’re going to have to give. But the idea that you can lose on immigration by giving the Republicans what they want, I don’t think exists in our majority population anymore,” Cuomo added. “I think if you want the majority of this country with you, you need to reform immigration and chain migration, or family reunification, and how it’s done and getting rid of catch and release.”
“The idea that people entering this country illegally are not the same as other criminals — they’re never going to just be thrown in jail. There are always going to have to be accommodations,” he said. “But you should be on the side of fixing it. Inaction is no longer a substitute for proper action or right action as Democrats see it. You got to be part of the solution ’cause it’s going to happen anyway.”
Trump’s mass deportation agenda has majority support from voters, including 86% of Republicans, 58% of independents and 25% of Democrats, according to a September Scripps News/Ipsos poll.
“And if it’s on amnesty? Shame on the Democrats. That is a loser with the American people — and not just right now, for a while … Democrats, whatever plan comes out is going to be better than where we are right now,” Cuomo added. “And you can talk about what message it sends about America and this and that.”
“I’m telling you, the right position for Democrats going forward, if they want to get to a better place, is in being part of that solution and not being seen as an obstacle to it,” he said.
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First published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.