Overview
- In an ABC interview, Todd Blanche responded to a statistic about detainees lacking criminal records by saying, "the fact that they're here illegally is a crime."
- George Stephanopoulos noted during the exchange that about 70% of those detained do not have criminal records.
- Immigration experts cited Arizona v. United States, which says, "as a general rule, it is not a crime for a removable alien to be present in the United States."
- Aaron Reichlin-Melnick said Blanche was "getting the law wrong on TV," referencing the Supreme Court precedent to counter the claim.
- Commentators, including former prosecutor Ron Filipkowski, used the exchange to criticize rhetoric that labels broad groups of migrants as criminals.