Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) sharply criticized former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies during an appearance on MSNBC’s The Beat Wednesday, calling them “cruel” and fundamentally “wrong.”
Guest-host Antonia Hylton pointed to recent Gallup polling that shows growing support among Americans for immigrants and immigration, asking McIver whether public sentiment is shifting in light of troubling incidents involving immigration enforcement.
“I think the conversation is definitely changing,” McIver responded. “Trump promised to go after criminals, and most people support holding those who commit crimes accountable. But what we’re seeing goes far beyond that.”
She highlighted numerous examples of what she described as unjust enforcement: “People being arrested at work, grandmothers and mothers being detained, children with cancer facing deportation, student visas being revoked — including for those here legally. These are individuals with no criminal charges, yet they’re being targeted and detained.”
McIver argued that such cases have shifted public opinion. “It’s opening people’s eyes to just how harsh and misguided this approach really is.”
Calling the administration’s actions inhumane, she added, “It’s cruel and it’s wrong. Democrats have consistently spoken out, and even some Republicans are beginning to push back. Immigration reform shouldn’t be carried out like this — with fear and cruelty at the center.”
