Migration in the U.S. has gone “too far,” Hillary Clinton said, as protests continue nationwide against federal immigration raids.
Speaking Saturday at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, the former U.S. secretary of state said there is a “legitimate reason” to debate migration policy, describing recent migration levels as “disruptive and destabilizing.”
“It needs to be fixed in a humane way with secure borders that don’t torture and kill people,” Clinton said.
Clinton has previously called herself a staunch supporter of comprehensive immigration reform, while arguing that any changes should align with U.S. values.
Reflecting on President Donald Trump’s first term, she said his administration “made it worse” through harsh border policies, including detaining children and separating families. She described that period as “one of the most shameful moments in our history,” and said immigration laws should be enforced fairly and with respect for human rights. At the same time, she said borders could not be “open” while governments seek to counter right-wing populism and authoritarianism.
Protests have spread across the country in response to the administration’s latest immigration crackdown and the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, particularly in major cities led by Democrats. Demonstrations and clashes have intensified in recent weeks, alongside growing debate over the scope of federal law enforcement powers in local communities.
A recent poll found that about three in five U.S. adults believe the White House has gone “too far” in its campaign against illegal immigration and its increased federal presence in U.S. cities.
Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, said Thursday that an expanded deployment of immigration agents in Minnesota—an effort known as Operation Metro Surge—would end because it had produced the results the White House wanted. The state is “safer” than before, he said.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz welcomed the announcement as “good news,” but said the influx of agents had hurt the state’s economy and left residents facing “a long road to recovery.”
