Alex Padilla Says Illegal Immigrants Are Long-Term Residents Who Just ‘Happen To Be Undocumented’

Democrat California Sen. Alex Padilla said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that illegal migrants in the U.S. are simply “long-term residents” who “happen to be undocumented.”

As President Donald Trump’s second administration attempts to fulfill his campaign promise of locking down the border and conducting mass deportations, illegal crossings have dropped to record lows. Highlighting Padilla’s opposition to Trump’s efforts, NBC’s Kristen Welker asked the senator if he would give Trump “credit” for the “record low crossings at the border.”

“Look, we should debate how the reduction in crossings has come about,” Padilla said. “But I think most importantly, let’s look at the different pieces of what the 🛂Immigration system looks like. Border security, everybody agrees we need an orderly, humane border. There’s an element of people wanting to come to the United States and how those programs need to be modernized and updated.”

“My focus has been on the people who have been here,” Padilla added. “Millions of long-term residents of the United States who happen to be undocumented that have been the target of this administration’s increasingly aggressive and cruel arrest, detention and deportation policies. If, and this is important to emphasize, they were truly only going after the dangerous violent criminals they so often talk about, there would be no debate, there would be no discussion.”

Under the Biden-Harris administration, millions of illegal migrants crossed through the U.S.’ open borders, fueling a nationwide crisis. Sanctuary cities like New York City and Denver became