During a revealing interview on NewsNation’s Cuomo Thursday night, Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) admitted what many conservatives have long suspected: Democrats are blocking border security legislation because they’re more focused on giving amnesty to illegal immigrants than fixing the crisis at our southern border.
Smith was blunt about it. When asked why Congress can’t get meaningful border reform passed, he admitted that the real holdup is that many Democrats — himself included — want millions of undocumented immigrants to stay in the country permanently.
“There are a lot of people in this country, undocumented, who should be allowed to stay,” Smith said. “They have been a vital part of our economy. They are vital parts of our community. They are husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, working, paying taxes. We have depended upon their labor for decades.”
Let’s be clear — this wasn’t a slip of the tongue. It was a full-throated endorsement of offering a path to citizenship to millions of people who entered or remained in the country illegally, even as Americans watch their borders overrun, crime rise, and public services strained to the breaking point.
Smith also echoed a now-common Democrat talking point: illegal immigrants deserve “due process” before being deported — even if they crossed the border unlawfully. He claimed the Trump administration was “defying the Supreme Court” and criticized efforts to enforce immigration laws without lengthy legal battles, which can take years and cost taxpayers millions.
“There has to be due process for deportations to ensure people aren’t wrongfully deported,” he said, pushing back on any kind of swift enforcement measures.
Rather than acknowledging the Biden administration’s failure to enforce border laws, Smith tried to deflect responsibility by once again blaming former President Donald Trump — even though Trump’s border policies led to historically low illegal crossings before Biden took office.
Smith criticized Trump for ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for certain groups and for limiting refugee intake — both measures Trump used to prioritize American jobs, national security, and resources.
“We’ve got Donald Trump blocking refugees, taking away Temporary Protected Status,” Smith complained, while defending the presence of illegal immigrants who have “been here for decades.”
While Smith conceded that the U.S. had “done a poor job of securing the border,” he admitted Democrats are unwilling to support tighter border and asylum laws unless amnesty is part of the deal. In his words, the inability to strike a deal that includes “a pathway to citizenship” is what has blocked any real action from Congress.
“Democrats want pathway to citizenship for some undocumented immigrants, and then a lot of us are wide open to talking about toughening the asylum laws and getting to greater security,” he said.
This is the classic D.C. bait-and-switch — promise border security after amnesty, but never actually deliver. Conservatives have seen this movie before: 1986’s amnesty law led to a flood of illegal immigration, and the promised enforcement never came.
Rep. Smith’s remarks should serve as a wake-up call to voters. While the southern border is facing a record-breaking surge in illegal crossings, fentanyl deaths are rising, and cities are overwhelmed by migrant shelters, Democrats are prioritizing legal status and benefits for those who broke our laws.
Instead of securing the border, upholding the law, and protecting American families, they’re pushing for blanket amnesty under the guise of compassion.
Make no mistake — this isn’t about fairness or justice. It’s about reshaping the electorate and solidifying political power. And they’re doing it at the expense of your security, your community, and your tax dollars.
