Kamala Harris Backtracks on Decriminalizing Illegal Immigration: I Meant We Shouldn't 'Treat' Them 'As Criminals'

Monica Sanchez | July 29, 2019
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2020 Democratic hopeful Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) is backtracking on her proclaimed stance in support of the decriminalization of illegal immigration.

Harris, who raised her hand on stage during the first round of 2020 Democratic primary debates in June in favor of decriminalization, now says that she meant she was “in favor of saying that we’re not going to treat people who are undocumented … as criminals.”

“That is not correct, I’m not in favor of decriminalizing or not having consequence for—let me just be very clear: we have to have a secure border, but I am in favor of saying that we’re not going to treat people who are undocumented cross the border as criminals, that is correct. That is correct,” Harris said Friday on “The View.”

"We cannot have anymore policy like we have had under this current president," she continued, calling Trump administration policies on immigration "inhumane." 

"We have got to have policy that is about passing comprehensive immigration reform, with a pathway toward citizenship," Harris said.

Co-host Megan McCain pressed Harris for further clarification, saying, “I believe that if someone crosses over the border illegally, it’s illegal. And you would decriminalize it.”

“I would not make it a crime punishable by jail,” Harris replied. “It should be a civil enforcement issue but not a criminal enforcement issue.”

Ah, the nuance.

This comes after many in the saturated field of Democratic presidential candidates were seeking to set themselves apart with who-could-be-the-most-liberal type agendas, including proposals such as free college, free healthcare, cancellation of student loan debt, reparations for gays, and, of course, decriminalizing illegal immigration in favor of open borders policies as opposed to border security and closing loopholes in the proven-to-be-broken immigration system.

H/T Fox News

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