MSNBC Host Melts Down After Conservative Guest Says ‘Illegal Aliens,’ Doubles Down

A former spokeswoman for the Biden administration was triggered when a panel guest on MSNBC used the term “illegal alien” while discussing a number of high-profile crimes by recent arrivals.

Symone Sanders-Townsend, former chief spokeswoman for Vice President Kamala Harris and current MSNBC host, sparred with Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts during a panel on Saturday that examined public attention being drawn to several killings that allegedly occurred by new migrants who crossed into the U.S. through the southern border. Sanders-Townsend kicked off the testy exchange by chiding co-host Michael Steele for asking Roberts to clarify his position on “illegal immigrants.”

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“What is the difference between an illegal immigrant, who, unfortunately, engages in that activity?” Steele asked, according to the American Tribune. Sanders-Townsend quickly interjected, saying, “I want to be clear; we don’t use the term illegal. They’re undocumented individuals.” Roberts called out the designation with his own quip: “That’s sweet. They’re illegal aliens.”

Continuing on, Steele acquiesced to Sanders-Townsend as he reframed a question to Roberts about whether conservatives are vilifying all new migrants as they hold up examples of recent violent crimes, including the Georgia killing of college student Laken Riley and more recently the rape-murder of a 12-year-old girl in Texas by two illegal Venezuelan migrants. “What you’re saying is because you have this instance of individuals behaving badly then that’s a reflection of every individual in that community,” Steele charged. Sanders quickly agreed, pivoting to an oft-used talking point by liberals who argue that the vast majority of migrants do not commit more crimes than Americans. “In Texas, undocumented immigrants were 37.1% less likely to be convicted of a crime,” she stated.

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“Tell that to the survivors of these people. Tell that to the survivors of the young lady killed in Georgia. What do you tell the parents of those people, those young girls who were killed?” Roberts shot back. The conversation quickly fell into Roberts and Sanders-Townsend talking over one another as they grasped for an edge. “You are weaponizing a horrific murder to smear 11 million people,” said the MSNBC host. “That is a laughable assertion. What Joe Biden is doing is weaponizing the entire government against every American,” Roberts replied.

To the hosts’ credit, they listened patiently as Roberts described how a second Trump administration would solve the problem of illegal immigration by conducting “the largest mass deportation in history,” among other measures.

“Well, first of all, we need to close the border. And secondly, we need to have the biggest mass deportation system ever in the history of America because it is unjust, and illegal, and evil that more than 10 million illegal aliens have come to this country. It’s imperative that we send those people back, invite them back to come through the legal system. We love immigrants and heritage, but we also love the rule of law,” said Roberts.

Heritage is participating in a massive undertaking by conservative organizations titled Project 2025 which has promised to activate a wish list of conservative priorities on day one of a Trump administration. Challenged by Sanders-Townsend on whether federal officials would be tasked with “going door-to-door” to root out those living in the U.S. illegally, Roberts said the change in guard as well as messaging could be enough to begin encouraging “self-deportation.”

Trump’s message “causes people to say ‘I don’t want to run the risk of being arrested for doing something illegal.’ But second, there are great plans using the Department of Homeland Security to return these people back to south of the border. The great thing is, even the majority of people on the political left agree with this because they see the damage this has done,” he added.

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