Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania said that 300,000 illegal immigrants trying to enter the country are hindering legal migrants from achieving their ‘American dream.’
A Barrier to Dreams?
Fetterman, speaking with CNN’s Jake Tapper on ‘The Lead,’ expressed concerns about the migrant crisis complicating the immigration system and emphasized the need for a secure U.S. southern border.
Legal Migration Advocacy
A staunch advocate for legal migration, Fetterman called for a ‘secure border’ and was puzzled by the criticism from his progressive peers. Addressing his pro-Israel and pro-border security views, Tapper asked, “Why do you think you’ve been criticized by so many progressives?”
Confusion Over Controversy
Fetterman responded, expressing confusion about the controversy, stating, “I honestly don’t understand. I don’t understand why it’s controversial to anybody to decide that you’re going to stand with Israel in this situation. I honestly don’t understand why it’s controversial to say we need a secure border.”
‘Clear’ Stance
“I’ve been very clear, in fact, that was weaponized against me [by] Republicans in my race, that I’m very much a strong supporter of immigration, and you know, my wife’s family, that’s the origin story about that,” he continued.
Record-Breaking Border Crossings
Fetterman’s comments come amid record-breaking illegal border crossing attempts in December, surpassing 302,000. The senator is married to a woman who came to the U.S. undocumented at age 7.
Immigration Supporter with a Twist
Senator John Fetterman emphasized his dual stance on immigration during a recent discussion. He stated, “And I think two things can be true at the same time. You can be very supportive of immigration, but we also need to have a secure border.”
Immigration Impact
He expressed concern about how the surge in illegal border crossings complicates the process for legal immigrants seeking the American Dream, remarking:
“And I really — [what] I think about immigration is, we want to provide the American Dream for any migrant. But it seems very difficult when you have 300,000 people showing up, encountered at our border to do that.”
A Fresh Start?
Fetterman suggested a ‘reset’ in U.S. border policies, stressing the need for the need for a collaborative effort between Republicans and Democrats to address the crisis and develop a comprehensive solution.
Bipartisan Border Dialogue
His ongoing concern about the southern border issues was evident in his remarks to Politico in December, emphasizing the importance of engagement by saying, “It’s a reasonable conversation, and Democrats should engage. It’s a reasonable conversation, and Democrats should engage.”
Break from the Party’s Far-Left
Lately, he has distanced himself from his party’s far-left by supporting Israel after the October 7 Hamas attack and advocating for stricter U.S. southern border policies. Speaking to NBC News, Fetterman stated, “’I’m not a progressive.”
Israel & Immigration
He continued, “I just think I’m a Democrat that is very committed to choice and other things. But with Israel, I’m going to be on the right side of that. And immigration is something near and dear to me, and I think we do have to effectively address it as well.”
Southern Border Influx
He believes in supporting immigration while also managing the influx at the southern border. “It’s a reasonable conversation – until somebody can say there’s an explanation on what we can do when 270,000 people are being encountered on the border, not including the ones, of course, that we don’t know about,’ Fetterman stated.
“To put that in reference, that is essentially the size of Pittsburgh, the second-largest city in Pennsylvania,” he added.
A Shift to Conservatism?
Fetterman’s recent policy positions are seen by some as a surprising shift. Initially perceived as a typical progressive, he now seems to adopt more conservative viewpoints on key issues.
New Political Persona
His steadfast support for Israel, especially following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, his advocacy for a secure border, and his willingness to confront corruption within his own party – including his remarks about Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, who is dealing with federal bribery charges – have started to resonate with conservative circles, marking a departure from his earlier political persona.
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