Nancy Pelosi's Controversial Immigration Remarks Examined

In 2018, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated that illegal aliens breaking laws is not a reason for deportation. This comment was made during a discussion on the current immigration process, hosted by Congresswoman Grace Meng. Pelosi's statement was fact-checked by PolitiFact and Snopes, who found no evidence of the quote, but also noted that the sentiment is accurate; being in the US without proper documentation is not a crime.

Pelosi's comments on illegal immigration being not a crime

In 2018, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated that a violation of status is not a reason for deportation. She made these comments during a discussion on the current immigration process, hosted by Congresswoman Grace Meng at Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, New York. Pelosi's remarks came just two days after President Trump delayed his planned immigration sweep following a request from Pelosi.

Pelosi's comments reflect the view that undocumented presence in the United States is not inherently criminal. This perspective is supported by immigration law, which states that undocumented presence becomes criminally punishable only if an individual returns to the country after being formally removed.

Pelosi has consistently advocated for comprehensive immigration reform, calling for a path to citizenship and smart border security. She has supported initiatives such as the Dream and Promise Act, which provides protection and a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and holders of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). Pelosi's statements align with those of other notable figures, including Kamala Harris and Chris Christie, who have similarly asserted that undocumented immigrants are not inherently criminals.

While Pelosi has not been directly quoted as saying, "Just because someone is here illegally doesn't mean they broke any of our laws," her comments during the 2018 immigration discussion convey a similar sentiment.

The context of Pelosi's statement

In the broader context of immigration discussions, Pelosi has made similar remarks in the past. For example, in a 2006 PBS NewsHour interview, she acknowledged that while some undocumented immigrants entered the country illegally, others had valid visas that expired or were awaiting backlogged processing by immigration services. She emphasized the need to strengthen border security while also supporting comprehensive immigration reform.

Pelosi's stance on immigration has been consistent over the years. She has supported the Dream Act, the DACA program, and condemned the Trump administration's "zero-tolerance" immigration policies that resulted in family separations at the border. Additionally, she has called for "strong, smart border security" while also advocating for the contributions and courage of immigrants, reflecting her overall support for immigration reform that upholds American values.

In 2018, Pelosi criticized the use of terms like "illegal alien" and "illegal immigrant" to describe non-citizens without documentation, arguing that such terminology is not constructive and carries negative connotations. Instead, she emphasized the need to protect both America's borders and its values.

While the specific statement in question has not been verified, it aligns with Pelosi's broader perspective on immigration, which recognizes the legal complexities surrounding undocumented immigrants and their contributions to American society.

Pelosi's stance on immigration

Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, has been a vocal supporter of immigration reform and has taken issue with terms such as "illegal alien" and "illegal immigrant" due to their negative connotations and their failure to capture the nuances of immigration law. Pelosi has supported the Dream Act and the DACA program, and has criticised the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" immigration enforcement policy that resulted in the separation of families at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Pelosi has also emphasised the positive contributions of immigrants to American society, stating that:

> "America draws strength from our long, proud heritage as a nation of immigrants, who are the constant reinvigoration of our country. Each wave of newcomers brings their patriotism, bravery and determination to succeed to our shores – and in doing so, makes America more American."

Pelosi has argued that the U.S. needs to implement strong, smart border security that is consistent with American values and does not waste billions of dollars on a border wall. She has also acknowledged the need to address the root causes of migration and to create legal pathways for people to migrate.

In terms of specific policies, Pelosi has supported the Dream and Promise Act, which provides a pathway to citizenship for "Dreamers", as well as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) holders. She has also twice passed H.R. 6, which addresses the crisis created by former President Trump's decision to end DACA.

Pelosi has been fact-checked by news organisations for some of her statements on immigration. For example, PolitiFact and Snopes investigated a statement attributed to Pelosi, in which she allegedly said, "Just because someone is here illegally doesn't mean they broke any of our laws." While they were unable to verify the source of this quote, they noted that it is logically coherent and consistent with Pelosi's broader stance on immigration.

In another instance, The Washington Post fact-checked Pelosi's claim that fewer migrants crossed the border under President Biden than under President Trump. They found that this claim was false, as data showed that Border Patrol agents encountered migrants trying to illegally cross the border between official ports of entry 7.2 million times under Biden compared to 1.8 million times under Trump.

Fact-checking Pelosi's statements

In a 2018 interview, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated that a violation of status is not a reason for deportation. She also said that the use of the terms "illegal immigrant" and "illegal alien" to describe non-citizens who are present in the United States without documentation is controversial, given their pejorative connotations and the blurring of critical distinctions in immigration law. Pelosi's stance is supported by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which points out that simply being in the US in violation of federal immigration statutes is not a crime in itself.

In a 2006 PBS NewsHour interview, Pelosi acknowledged that while some undocumented immigrants entered the country illegally, others did so legally but overstayed, worked without authorization, or violated the conditions of their visas. She also emphasized the need for stronger border security. Pelosi's statements reflect a nuanced understanding of immigration law, recognizing that not all undocumented immigrants have broken the law in the same way.

However, Pelosi has been criticized for some of her statements on immigration. In 2024, she claimed that fewer migrants crossed the border under the Biden administration than under Trump's first term. This statement was fact-checked by The Washington Post and PolitiFact, who found it to be inaccurate based on available data. While Biden carried out more total repatriations, the data on illegal migration encounters and releases awaiting court hearings contradicted Pelosi's claim.

Pelosi's comments on immigration have sparked debates and fact-checking efforts, highlighting the complexities and nuances of immigration law and policy.

Pelosi's response to Trump's immigration policies

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been vocal in her opposition to former President Donald Trump's immigration policies. Pelosi has criticised Trump's emphasis on merit-based immigration as "condescending" to families, and has argued that the former President's characterisation of immigrants as "murderers, rapists, thieves and all the rest" is incorrect and inflammatory. Pelosi has also taken issue with the term "illegal alien", stating that:

> "Using terminology like 'illegal aliens illegally entering the country' is just not viewed as constructive. The fact is that we have — we must protect our borders; that is our responsibility. We also must protect our values; that’s our responsibility as well."

Pelosi has supported the Dream Act and the DACA program, and has condemned the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" immigration enforcement policy, which resulted in the separation of children from their families at the US-Mexico border. She has also twice supported the passing of the Dream and Promise Act, which provides a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, as well as TPS and DED holders.

Pelosi has emphasised the need for comprehensive immigration reform, stating that:

> "America draws strength from our long, proud heritage as a nation of immigrants, who are the constant reinvigoration of our country. Each wave of newcomers brings their patriotism, bravery and determination to succeed to our shores – and in doing so, makes America more American."

She has also advocated for strong, smart border security that serves the country's needs, upholds American values, and does not waste billions of dollars on a border wall. Pelosi has stated that:

> "We all agree that we need to secure our borders... President Trump must stop holding the American people hostage, must stop manufacturing a crisis, and must reopen the government."

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