Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) used a Monday appearance on Fox News Channels Hannity to insist he would not support a government shutdown, even as he called for changes to federal immigration enforcement.
According to Breitbart, Fetterman attempted to balance his partys pro-migration stance with growing public concern over border security and criminal aliens. He argued, [W]e should all agree to deport all of the criminals now that are here in our nation right now. Andfor me, as apro-immigration Democrat, I do think we need to develop a way for citizenship for the very hardworking migrants that are amidst us [as] well now, too.
In a remark that will raise eyebrows among conservatives who have watched the Biden administration preside over record illegal crossings, Fetterman declared, I have to give credit to the president for securing our border. That praise stands in sharp contrast to the reality on the ground, where overwhelmed communities and law enforcement continue to grapple with the consequences of lax federal policy.
Fetterman also tried to position himself as fiscally responsible, stressing his opposition to using a shutdown as leverage for immigration reform. I was one of the Democrats that led the pushback about the government shutdown last yearand if the Democrats vote to shut it down, now, our entire military wont be paid again. I cant ever support that, he said, warning of the impact on service members.
He continued, I absolutely hope we can engage in a debate, and make some of the kinds of commonsense reforms on ICE and make it more safe, more humane and more effective and just focus exclusively on the criminals. I hope thats possible. But, for me, I remain the one Democrat, at least, that refused to shut our government down. And, now, if this happens, our military wont be paid because a significant part of our government would shut down again.
For many on the right, the unresolved question is whether Democrats like Fetterman will ever back the strong enforcement tools and border policies needed to match their rhetoric on deporting criminal migrants.
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