US Border Czar Tom Homan on Monday criticised Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett for claiming that “it’s not a crime to enter our country illegally,” despite the act being a violation of federal law.
“It’s really pathetic that any member of Congress doesn’t understand what the law says! It’s a crime to enter this country illegally, and we’re gonna enforce those laws,” Tom Homan said in an interview on Fox News.
These remarks came after the Democratic representative appeared on ‘The Katie Phang Show’ on MSNBC to discuss her role in a House Committee hearing on sanctuary city policies last week, where she told the viewers that illegally entering the United States is not a “crime” but rather a “civil violation,” arguing that undocumented immigrants should not be classified as criminals.
“[Republicans] are so outraged by these immigrants and the crime that they’re bringing. And not to mention, city law enforcement, local law enforcement, they are always going after crime,” Crockett said.
“And they don’t say, ‘oh, you committed a murder, oh, but you’re an immigrant. Well, let me let you go.’ Right? So they are always focused on crime,” she added.
Crockett further elaborated on her position regarding illegal entry stating: “They continue to say things like ‘the illegals’ and that they broke the law coming in. But what they’re not telling the American people is that it is a civil violation.”
“It is not a criminal violation to enter the country illegally. It’s not. It’s not criminal. It’s not a crime. It’s not a crime. Which is why they’re so frustrated, because they really want our local law enforcement to go out and round up people when they could be looking out for the murderers and the sexual abusers, as well as the robbers. They want them to go and round people up on civil accusations,” she added.
She further criticised Republicans of hypocrisy, criticising their support for immigration raids while backing President Donald Trump, whom she labeled “the biggest criminal” of them all.
“That’s why I wanted to point out, don’t give me this fake outrage about criminals roaming our streets when you guys stand 10 toes down for the biggest criminal that we have ever seen go into the White House,” Crockett said.
According to federal law 8 USC 1325, unauthorised entry into the United States constitutes a federal misdemeanour, carrying penalties of fines and up to six months imprisonment for first offences. Subsequent offences can result in fines and imprisonment up to two years.