Pelosi's Alleged Advice To Immigrants: Break The Law?

There is no evidence to suggest that Nancy Pelosi told illegal immigrants to break the law. However, she has been accused of making false claims about immigration numbers under the Biden and Trump administrations. Pelosi has also been criticized for her comments about undocumented immigrants, which some interpreted as excusing illegal immigration. In addition, she was accused by President Trump of breaking the law by tearing up her copy of his State of the Union speech, although legal experts refuted this claim.

Did Nancy Pelosi tell illegal immigrants to break the law?

There is no evidence to suggest that Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, has ever explicitly told illegal immigrants to break the law.

Pelosi has, however, made several statements regarding immigration policy and reform. Pelosi has supported the Dream Act and the DACA program, and has condemned the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" immigration enforcement policy that resulted in the separation of children from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border.

In a 2006 PBS News Hour interview, Pelosi acknowledged that while many undocumented immigrants did enter the country illegally, others entered legally but overstayed, worked without authorization, or violated the conditions of their visas. She reiterated this point in a 2018 statement on immigration priorities, where she called for "strong, smart border security" while also advocating for a path to citizenship and comprehensive immigration reform.

In a 2024 interview with The New York Times, Pelosi was fact-checked by the Washington Post for claiming that fewer migrants came into the U.S. under President Biden than under President Trump. Pelosi stood by her statement, arguing that the Biden administration had carried out more total repatriations than the Trump administration. However, this claim was deemed misleading by the Washington Post, as it did not provide evidence that fewer people were let into the U.S. under Biden.

In summary, while Pelosi has expressed support for immigration reform and a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, there is no indication that she has explicitly encouraged illegal immigrants to break the law.

Pelosi's stance on immigration

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi has expressed a positive view of immigration, stating that America has a "long, proud heritage as a nation of immigrants" and that diversity is fundamental to the country's strength. She has criticised former President Trump's immigration policies as "disastrous", specifically his ending of the DACA program, which protected undocumented immigrants who entered the US as minors. Pelosi has also supported the Dream and Promise Act, which provides a pathway to citizenship for these individuals.

Pelosi has emphasised the need for comprehensive immigration reform, acknowledging the broken nature of the current system, which she believes fails to keep Americans safe and uphold national values. She supports smart border security, one that serves the country's needs and values without wasting taxpayer dollars on ineffective measures like a border wall. Pelosi has also noted the importance of addressing the root causes of migration and providing legal channels for people to migrate safely.

In terms of specific policies, Pelosi has supported the Dream and Promise Act, which provides a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children, known as "Dreamers". She has also advocated for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects these individuals from deportation. Pelosi has been critical of Republicans for their inaction on DACA and has used procedural tactics to pressure them into addressing the issue.

However, Pelosi has faced criticism for some of her statements on immigration. She was fact-checked by The Washington Post for claiming that fewer migrants entered the US under President Biden's first term compared to President Trump's. Pelosi later clarified that she was referring to deportation data, which showed that the Biden administration carried out more repatriations than the Trump administration. Nonetheless, this statement was deemed misleading by fact-checkers.

Overall, Pelosi's stance on immigration leans towards reform that provides a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, especially those who came to the US as children. She supports strong but humane border security and addressing the root causes of migration. However, she has been criticised for making misleading statements about the number of migrants entering the US under different administrations.

Pelosi's comments on Biden's immigration policy

In February 2021, President Joe Biden introduced an immigration proposal that seeks to deliver on a list of campaign promises, including providing a path to citizenship for young people brought to the U.S. by their parents as children. The proposal also allows immigrant farmworkers and those with Temporary Protected Status to obtain green cards swiftly and permits undocumented immigrants to apply for green cards after five years.

Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, has praised Biden's immigration proposal, stating that welcoming more immigrants would strengthen the country. She has also acknowledged that there is broad opposition to the bill from Republicans, but some in the GOP support specific aspects of the legislation. Pelosi has suggested that the proposal could be broken up to deliver smaller victories. She said:

> "I salute the president for putting forth the legislation that he did. There are others who want to do piecemeal, and that may be a good approach too. That’s up to the Congress to decide."

Pelosi has also said that Democrats could seek to pass the bill through the budget resolution process, which would only require a simple 51-vote majority in the Senate, instead of the usual 60 votes. However, she questioned whether the bill would qualify for this process, referencing the Byrd Rule, which requires that a piece of legislation has a significant effect on the federal budget.

In a New York Times interview, Pelosi commented on the 2024 election, saying that the Democrats lost partly because of cultural issues. She suggested that Biden's comments about people coming into the U.S. being "murderers, rapists, thieves and all the rest" made immigration a cultural issue. Pelosi also claimed that fewer people came into the U.S. under Biden than under Trump, but this statement was fact-checked and found to be false.

Pelosi's comments on Kamala Harris's election loss

In the aftermath of Kamala Harris's loss in the 2024 election, Nancy Pelosi commented on the potential reasons for the defeat. Pelosi suggested that the outcome may have been different if Joe Biden had dropped out of the race earlier, allowing for an open primary. She argued that Biden's swift endorsement of Harris after dropping out made it "almost impossible" for other candidates to enter the race. Pelosi also attributed the loss to cultural issues, specifically mentioning guns, God, and gays. She further stated that the Democratic Party needed to be clearer in its messaging, claiming that fewer people entered the US under Biden than under Trump. However, this claim was fact-checked and deemed false by the Washington Post.

Pelosi also complimented Harris during her interview with the New York Times, stating that Harris "gave people hope" and "caused a great deal of excitement." She acknowledged the time constraints Harris faced and believed she did a "great job" within those limitations. Pelosi's comments reflected a desire to understand the election results and determine a path forward for the Democratic Party.

The loss sparked a broader discussion within the Democratic Party about their strategy and messaging. Some argued that the party needed to moderate its positions on cultural issues, such as immigration and trans women in sports, to appeal to a wider range of voters. Others pointed to economic concerns, such as inflation, as the primary reason for the defeat. There was also criticism of the Democratic Party's failure to communicate effectively with certain demographics outside of their typical base.

Pelosi's comments on Biden's role in Harris's election loss

In an interview with the New York Times, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticised President Joe Biden for endorsing Kamala Harris so soon after dropping out of the 2024 presidential race. Biden's swift endorsement of Harris, Pelosi claimed, "made it almost impossible to have a primary at that time". Pelosi suggested that if Biden had stepped down sooner, there would have been an open primary and Harris "may have been stronger going forward".

Pelosi's comments came in the wake of Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election, in which he defeated Harris. Pelosi attended Harris's concession speech at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and later posted on X, formerly Twitter, "We all pray for America's success under the next administration. The peaceful transfer of power is the cornerstone of our democracy."

Pelosi's criticism of Biden was echoed by other Democratic strategists, lawmakers, and pundits, who publicly blamed the loss on Biden's refusal to exit the race until late July. Biden's popularity had been declining in the polls, and an increasing number of Americans believed he was too old to serve another term.

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