Tensions flared on The View as co-host Sunny Hostin clashed with Whoopi Goldberg and Alyssa Farah Griffin over the issue of illegal immigration and deportation policies.
The discussion, which aired during a recent episode, centered on public support for deporting illegal immigrants with criminal records, but quickly turned into a broader debate on immigration enforcement and crime statistics.
During the conversation, Alyssa Farah Griffin pointed to public polling showing widespread support for deporting illegal immigrants with criminal histories.
“87% support deporting criminal undocumented,” Farah stated.
Goldberg appeared to agree, emphasizing that no one advocates for keeping criminals in the country.
“Yes. I don’t know anybody in the world. Yeah, I don’t know anybody in the world who wants to keep the criminals. I don’t know anybody,” Goldberg said.
It is worth noting that 145 Democrats recently voted against deporting illegal aliens who ‘rape, molest and murder’ women and girls.
Just walked off the floor – after HR30 passes the House for a second time – 145 Democrats have a lot of explaining to do after being given a second chance to protect women and girls from illegals who r*pe, m*lest and m*rder them. pic.twitter.com/lm9oP6ibcr [1]
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) January 16, 2025 [2]
Farah reiterated her position, emphasizing the need to focus on criminals rather than broader debates over immigration policy.
“That’s where you should be focused,” she said.
Hostin, however, pushed back, arguing that illegalalienss are statistically less likely to commit crimes than American citizens.
“Can I say something? Because, you know, they keep on talking about criminals and immigrants being criminals. And I just want people to understand what the facts are and the stats are, is that undocumented immigrants are much less likely to have committed crimes than American citizens. American citizens commit more crimes than anyone who is undocumented,” Hostin claimed.
She went on to argue that entering the country illegally is not a crime but a civil offense.
“I also want to make the point that an undocumented immigrant is not a criminal because he or she is undocumented. That is a civil offense. So to call people illegal is in and of itself, I think, xenophobic and racist. And incorrect,” she said.
The View’s Sunny Hostin: “An undocumented immigrant is not a criminal because he or she is undocumented.”
?????? pic.twitter.com/iWzI0Bw6u4 [3]
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) January 28, 2025 [4]
Despite Hostin’s assertion, illegal entry into the United States is a federal crime under 8 U.S. Code § 1325, which makes it unlawful to enter or attempt to enter the country without authorization.
While some immigration violations are civil offenses, crossing the border illegally is a criminal act as new White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pointed out yesterday.
Reporter: “How many of the migrants that were deported have a criminal record?”
Leavitt: “All. Invading is a crime.” pic.twitter.com/GZbrMDRc5P [5]
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 28, 2025 [6]
The debate over illegal immigration intensified under the Biden-Harris administration, particularly following high-profile crimes committed by illegal immigrants.
Hostin’s remarks come as the country grapples with cases like that of Laken Riley, a young woman allegedly murdered by an illegal immigrant.
Such incidents have fueled renewed calls for stricter border security and immigration enforcement.
Polling consistently shows that Americans overwhelmingly support deporting illegal immigrants with criminal records and increasing border security.
President Donald Trump has made mass deportations a centerpiece of his administration’s immigration policy, aiming to reverse Biden-era policies that loosened immigration enforcement.
Meanwhile, sanctuary cities—where local authorities refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement—have faced growing criticism as crime rates rise and resources become strained.
As debates like the one on The View continue, immigration remains one of the most pressing issues heading into the 2024 election, with border security, crime, and public safety at the forefront of voters’ concerns.