Democrats don’t seem to learn any lessons. They continue to double down on their insanity.
And now a U.S. Senate Democrat has ended his own career with this extremely moronic statement on live TV.
California Democratic Senator Alex Padilla appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, describing undocumented immigrants in the U.S. as “long-term residents” who “happen to be undocumented.” As President Donald Trump’s second term focuses on securing the border and implementing widespread deportations, illegal border crossings have plummeted to historic lows. NBC host Kristen Welker pressed Padilla on whether he would acknowledge Trump’s role in the sharp decline in border crossings.
“Look, we should debate how the reduction in crossings has come about,” Padilla said. “But I think most importantly, let’s look at the different pieces of what the immigration system looks like. Border security, everybody agrees we need an orderly, humane border. There’s an element of people wanting to come to the United States and how those programs need to be modernized and updated.”
Padilla emphasized his focus on protecting undocumented individuals who have lived in the U.S. for years. “Millions of long-term residents of the United States who happen to be undocumented that have been the target of this administration’s increasingly aggressive and cruel arrest, detention and deportation policies. If, and this is important to emphasize, they were truly only going after the dangerous violent criminals they so often talk about, there would be no debate, there would be no discussion.”
During the Biden-Harris administration, an influx of millions of undocumented migrants crossed the U.S. border, overwhelming cities and straining public resources. Sanctuary cities like New York City and Denver faced skyrocketing costs for housing and services as they grappled with the crisis.
“But the vast majority of the people they’re arresting, detaining, and even deporting, many without due process, do not have those criminal violent convictions on their records,” Padilla continued. “They’re actually people who are critical to our economy.”
The border crisis contributed to a surge in drug trafficking, the tragic deaths of Americans like 22-year-old Laken Riley, and an estimated 300,000 missing migrant children, many suspected to have been trafficked for sex or labor. In response, Trump’s administration has prioritized deporting public safety threats, including rapists, child predators, and gang members, as confirmed by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) actions. However, border czar Tom Homan has clarified that enforcement efforts will not be limited to criminals but will include all undocumented immigrants.
Following Trump’s victory in the November 2024 election, Los Angeles declared itself a “sanctuary city” through a city council ordinance. The Department of Justice responded in June with a lawsuit, arguing the ordinance violated the Constitution’s supremacy clause and hindered ICE operations. That same month, downtown Los Angeles saw widespread riots and protests against Trump’s intensified immigration raids. Despite opposition from Democrats like Padilla and California Governor Gavin Newsom, the unrest led to vandalism, looting, and car fires, costing the city millions in damages.
How Democrats Lost Trust on Immigration and Border Security
Polls conducted in 2024 and 2025 consistently show that a majority of Americans view border security as a critical concern, with many expressing frustration over the perceived leniency of Democratic policies. A Gallup poll from mid-2024 revealed that 55% of Americans wanted immigration levels decreased, a sharp rise from previous years, reflecting growing unease with the handling of the border under the Biden-Harris administration.
The Biden-Harris years saw an unprecedented surge in illegal border crossings, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection reporting over 2.5 million apprehensions of migrants at the southern border in 2023 alone. This influx strained local communities, particularly in sanctuary cities, where mayors and governors struggled to accommodate the sudden population increases. New York City, for instance, spent over $2 billion on migrant housing and services between 2022 and 2024, while Denver reported similar fiscal pressures. These costs fueled public resentment, as taxpayers felt burdened by policies they viewed as unsustainable.
High-profile incidents during this period further damaged Democratic credibility. The murder of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia student, by an undocumented migrant in 2024 became a rallying point for critics of open-border policies. Similarly, reports of missing migrant children—estimated at 300,000 by some advocacy groups—raised alarms about human trafficking and lax oversight. These tragedies were widely covered by news outlets, amplifying public outrage and linking Democratic policies to real-world consequences.
Democrats’ defense of sanctuary city policies also alienated many voters. When Los Angeles declared itself a sanctuary city in late 2024, it was seen as a direct challenge to federal immigration enforcement, particularly after Trump’s election. The subsequent riots in June 2025, which caused millions in damages, underscored the tension between local Democratic leadership and federal priorities.
The rhetoric from Democratic leaders like Senator Padilla, who framed undocumented immigrants as “long-term residents” contributing to the economy, often clashed with public sentiment. While Padilla and others advocated for humane treatment and comprehensive immigration reform, many Americans interpreted these statements as dismissive of border security concerns. A Rasmussen Reports poll from early 2025 found that 62% of voters believed Democrats were out of touch on immigration, favoring amnesty over enforcement.
Trump’s aggressive approach to border security, including mass deportation plans and a focus on criminal aliens, resonated with a public frustrated by years of perceived inaction. The Department of Homeland Security’s prioritization of public safety threats, coupled with an enforcement strategy, contrasted sharply with Democratic calls for leniency. This contrast was particularly stark when border czar Tom Homan announced that ICE would target all undocumented immigrants, not just those with criminal records, aligning with voter demands for stricter measures.
