Presidential candidate and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren doubled-down on Monday regarding her stance that crossing the border illegally should be decriminalized, reports LifeZette.
When asked if she supports repealing Section 1325 of the immigration code, Sen. Warren responded, "I am...I think that the whole notion of criminalizing the approach to coming across the border without documentation is not making anybody any safer. We just need to be in a different position on this."
That portion of the immigration code reads:
Section 1325 sets forth criminal offenses relating to (1) improper entry into the United States by an alien, (2) entry into marriage for the purpose of evading immigration laws, and (3) establishing a commercial enterprise for the purpose of evading immigration laws. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) amended 8 U.S.C. § 1325 to provide that an alien apprehended while entering or attempting to enter the United States at a time or place other than as designated by immigration officers shall be subject to a civil penalty.
“It’s really important on immigration that we concentrate our resources on the people who pose threats to us, and that’s not children,” the potential 2020 Democratic nominee said. “It’s not mamas fleeing terror from gangs down in Central America. It’s not people trying to build a life who have family here.”
Warren's comments come just weeks after she, along with much of the rest of the Democratic presidential field, expressed support for open borders. Even Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has adopted the position.
WOW: @SpeakerPelosi said just a few minutes ago that crossing the border illegally should not be a crime --
— John Cooper (@thejcoop) June 27, 2019
"But you just cannot say...that anybody coming across the border is breaking the law."
And the Left keeps saying it's not for open borders? pic.twitter.com/YCO8wZPsS2