House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been accused of encouraging illegal immigration by supporting laws that allow migrants to seek asylum in the US and by advocating for open borders. Pelosi has defended these laws, stating that asylum seekers are not breaking the law by entering the country and that the US is part of a global society. She has also supported the Dream Act, the DACA program, and condemned the Trump administration's zero tolerance immigration policy. Pelosi's comments have sparked outrage among those who believe that the government should secure the border and protect the country from illegal immigration. However, it is important to note that Pelosi has also called for strong, smart border security and has worked to ensure that immigrants can continue to contribute to the country while providing a pathway to citizenship.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Date | 7th February 2018 |
Event | House floor speech |
Speaker | House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi |
Topic | Immigration |
Message | Thanking illegal aliens for breaking the law |
Encouragement | Encouraged illegal aliens to continue breaking the law |
Consequence | No deportation |
What You'll Learn
Pelosi questions the point of enforcing immigration laws
In February 2018, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi thanked illegal immigrants for breaking the law by bringing their children into the United States. She praised the "courage" of the parents of "Dreamers", saying:
> I say to their parents: Thank you for bringing these Dreamers to America. We’re in your debt for the courage it took, for you to take the risk, physically, politically, in every way, to do so.
Pelosi's comments sparked controversy, with some accusing her of encouraging law-breaking and urging deportees to thwart court deportation orders. However, Pelosi has also questioned the point of enforcing immigration laws, suggesting that violations of status are not a sufficient reason for deportation.
During a discussion on the current immigration process in June 2019, Pelosi criticised planned ICE raids as "uncivilized" and argued that they would cause unnecessary harm to families. She also questioned the motivation behind such enforcement actions, asking, "what's the point?"
Pelosi's stance on immigration enforcement appears to be influenced by her belief that families belong together and her concern for the well-being of children. She has also emphasised the need for comprehensive immigration reform and has worked to delay deportation actions to allow for legislative solutions to be developed.
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Pelosi suggests immigrants have guaranteed rights to the US
In February 2018, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi thanked illegal immigrants for breaking the law by bringing their children into the United States. She praised the "courage" of these immigrants, whom she called "Dreamers", and their parents, and said that the US "owes them". Pelosi set the record for the longest continuous speech in the House at this time, speaking for over 7 hours.
Pelosi's comments were made during a discussion on the current immigration process, hosted by Congresswoman Grace Meng at Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, New York. Her remarks came just two days after President Trump delayed his planned immigration sweep for two weeks, following a request from Pelosi.
In her speech, Pelosi argued that violating US immigration law is "not a reason for deportation". She also criticised the planned ICE raids as "uncivilized", saying that kicking down doors and splitting up families goes "outside the circle of civilized human behaviour".
In addition, Pelosi has urged members of her caucus to disseminate the party's "know your rights" campaign to illegal immigrants in their districts. She has advised them on how to avoid deportation, for example, by refusing to let ICE agents into their homes without a warrant signed by a judge. Pelosi has also suggested appealing to religious leaders to speak out against planned raids, believing that opposition from these leaders played a role in Trump's decision to call off a previous raid in June 2019.
Overall, Pelosi's comments and actions suggest that she believes immigrants have guaranteed rights to remain in the US, even if they have entered the country illegally.
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Pelosi's support for open borders
In February 2018, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi thanked illegal immigrants for breaking the law by bringing their children into the United States. She praised the "courage" of the parents of "Dreamers", stating that the US was "in [their] debt". Pelosi's comments sparked controversy, with some accusing her of encouraging law-breaking and obstructing justice.
Pelosi has consistently opposed the deportation of illegal immigrants, arguing that a violation of status is not grounds for deportation. She has urged members of her caucus to disseminate the party's "know your rights" campaign to illegal immigrants and has advised them on how to avoid deportation by refusing entry to ICE agents without a warrant signed by a judge. Pelosi's stance on immigration has been characterised by her critics as a nullification of all immigration law.
Pelosi's public support for open borders and her opposition to deportation policies have placed her at odds with Republican lawmakers and the Trump administration, who have advocated for stricter immigration controls and the enforcement of existing laws. Pelosi's comments have been interpreted as encouraging illegal immigration and obstructing the enforcement of immigration laws.
While Pelosi has faced criticism for her stance, she maintains that her position is motivated by a desire to keep families together and ensure fair treatment for immigrants. She has called for comprehensive immigration reform and has criticised ICE raids as "uncivilized", arguing that they cause unnecessary harm to families and individuals. Pelosi's influence as a top lawmaker has allowed her to delay immigration sweeps and advocate for policy changes that reflect her beliefs about the treatment of immigrants.
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Pelosi's condemnation of Trump's zero tolerance immigration policy
In June 2019, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticised President Trump's planned ICE raids as "uncivilized", stating that the raids were "outside the circle of civilized human behaviour". She also questioned the purpose of the raids, which she said were "kicking down doors, splitting up families". Pelosi's comments came just two days after President Trump delayed his immigration sweep for two weeks following a phone call from Pelosi.
Pelosi's condemnation of Trump's zero-tolerance immigration policy can be seen in her efforts to work with the President to find a solution to the asylum and loophole problems at the southern border. She also urged religious leaders to speak out against the planned raids, believing that their opposition played a significant role in Trump's decision to call off a sweeping ICE raid in June 2019. Pelosi has also called for comprehensive immigration reform, stating that "families belong together".
In addition, Pelosi has advised immigrants facing deportation on how to avoid consequences for breaking the law, such as by refusing to open the door for ICE agents if they do not have a warrant signed by a judge. She has also encouraged Democrats to disseminate the party's "know your rights" campaign to illegal immigrants in their districts who may be targeted during the raids.
Pelosi's actions and statements demonstrate her opposition to Trump's zero-tolerance immigration policy and her commitment to finding a more humane approach to immigration that keeps families together.
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Pelosi's support for the Dream Act and DACA program
In 2017, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called President Trump's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program a "cruel act of political cowardice". Pelosi tied Trump's decision to his pardon of former controversial Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was convicted of criminal contempt for violating a court order in a racial profiling case. She urged House Republicans to "join Democrats to pass legislation to safeguard our young DREAMers from the senseless cruelty of deportation and shield families from separation and heartbreak".
Pelosi has also expressed her support for the Dream Act, which would offer a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children. In a statement marking the 10th anniversary of the House passage of the Dream Act, Pelosi said:
> "Ten years ago, with the passage of the Dream Act, our Democratic Majority took a momentous first step to protect our brave young Dreamers and ensure the American Dream was available to all. By delivering a pathway to citizenship, the Dream Act recognized the extraordinary patriotism and innumerable contributions of our Dreamers, while honouring our heritage as a nation of immigrants."
Pelosi has also advised immigrants on how to avoid deportation, including by urging members of her caucus to help disseminate the party's "know your rights" campaign. She has been criticised by some for these actions, with one commentator in the American Thinker accusing her of "nullifying all immigration law".
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, in 2018, Pelosi thanked illegal immigrants for having the "courage" to bring their children into the US. She also said that violating US law is "not a reason for deportation".
Pelosi advised people facing deportation to thwart court deportation orders. She told them that if ICE agents arrive at their homes without a warrant signed by a judge, they can refuse to let them in.
Pelosi's comments were made during a discussion about the current immigration process. She was speaking at an event hosted by Congresswoman Grace Meng, with immigration protesters and advocacy groups in attendance.