Former Gov. John Kasich called President Donald Trump’s latest immigration plan “wacky” and “just crazy” during a CNN interview Friday morning.
The Washington Post reported Thursday night that Trump was once again considering a plan to release migrants into self-declared sanctuary cities. Trump confirmed the report in a pair of tweets Friday morning.
“Due to the fact that Democrats are unwilling to change our very dangerous immigration laws, we are indeed, as reported, giving strong consideration to placing illegal immigrants in sanctuary cities,” Trump said. “Only the radical left always seems to have an open borders, open arms policy—so this should make them very happy.”
Due to the fact that Democrats are unwilling to change our very dangerous immigration laws, we are indeed, as reported, giving strong considerations to placing Illegal Immigrants in Sanctuary Cities only….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 12, 2019
Trump touted the idea again during a White House event Friday afternoon, according to The Hill.
“We can give them an unlimited supply [of migrants] and let’s see if they’re so happy,” he said. “They say ‘we have open arms.’ They’re always saying they have open arms. Let’s see if they have open arms.”
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-12) called the idea “disrespectful” and “unworthy” of the office of the presidency, while some members of the Trump administration claimed that the proposal had already been rejected.
Responding to the news on CNN, Kasich blasted the idea as “wacky” and “just crazy.”
The President’s consideration of a plan to transfer immigrants to sanctuary cities is a terrible idea, and only further divides our nation. pic.twitter.com/NTvWojrRyB
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) April 12, 2019
“You can’t have presidents kind of doing these things. So there’s going to be another president at some point. Is there going to be like a civil war response? OK, you did this to us now we’re going to do this to you? This is what pulls countries apart and I think the public, no matter whether you’re for Trump or against Trump, we’ve got to get a grip here, and we’ve got to start thinking about the human element in all this,” Kasich said. “But the idea that I’m going to take these folks and place them in a community where my political opponents live—frankly, it’s just wacky. It’s just crazy.”
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of Battleground State News, The Ohio Star, and The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “John Kasich” by John Kasich.