During Monday’s episode of ABC’s propaganda show “The View,” co-host Sunny Hostin made a controversial claim that sparked widespread debate, arguing that it’s not against the law to live in the United States illegally.
“It is not illegal to be undocumented,” she said.
She made the claim while doubling down that illegal immigration is merely a civil offense, not a criminal act.
The conversation began when co-host Sara Haines cited polling data showing strong public support for deportation policies.
90% of Republicans, two-thirds of independents, and nearly half of Democrats support President Donald Trump’s deportation agenda, the poll shows.
“A massive amount of this country actually agrees with, not how [Trump’s] doing it, but what he’s doing,” Haines said, referring to the president’s immigration crackdown.
Hostin pushed back, insisting the debate was rooted in “misinformation.”
“Let’s axe that right now… People are not illegal,” Hostin declared.
She argued illegal immigration is a civil infraction, not a crime.
Her co-host, Alyssa Farah Griffin, disagreed, referencing polling that shows most Americans believe illegal immigration is a serious issue.
Most voters support deportations, Griffin noted.
Haines reinforced the point, saying support for enforcement policies is far broader than liberal commentators admit.
WATCH:
While Hostin attempted to frame illegal immigration as a technical issue of civil code, Americans aren’t buying it.
Polls from Pew and Fox News show deep frustration with the status quo.
A Fox News poll (Oct. 2024) found that two-thirds of voters supported Trump’s mass deportation plan, while a Pew Research poll (May 2025) revealed that about half of all U.S. adults believe at least some illegal immigrants should be deported, with nearly one-third favoring the deportation of all illegal aliens.
Hostin’s remarks come at a time when immigration is emerging as one of the top issues for voters heading into 2026, especially in states like Texas, Arizona, and Florida that are bearing the brunt of the border crisis.
The show’s hosts also took aim at Trump’s recent decision to send the National Guard to Los Angeles in response to violent protests over immigration enforcement raids.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom slammed the move as “a serious breach of state sovereignty” and accused Trump of “inflaming tensions.”
But critics say the blame lies not with Trump, but with left-wing officials who refuse to enforce the law.
Los Angeles has long operated as a “sanctuary” city, shielding even violent offenders from federal deportation orders.
As border crossings hit record highs, Americans are growing tired of rhetoric and demanding action.
While progressive voices in media try to reframe the conversation around “civil infractions” and “compassion,” polling makes one thing clear: a majority of Americans want a return to strong immigration enforcement.
The idea that immigration violations are harmless paperwork issues falls flat when families and communities face the consequences of unchecked entry.
Hostin’s assertion that “people are not illegal” may appeal to the activist Left, but it ignores the legal distinction between lawful immigration and violating U.S. borders — a distinction voters increasingly say matters.
With immigration shaping up to be a defining issue in upcoming elections, Democrats may find that dismissing concerns as “misinformation” isn’t just misleading — it’s politically costly.
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