‘So, we don’t need to be disrespectful. We don’t need to talk about them as criminals. They’re not,’ Haley said in 2015.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley at one time defended illegal immigrants from being referred to as “criminals.”
Haley’s defense of the illegal invaders came during a panel of Republican governors at the Aspen Institute in 2015, where she explained her stance on immigration.
“But let’s keep in mind, these people that are wanting to come here, they want to come for a better life, too. They have kids, too. They have a heart, too,” Haley said.
“So, we don’t need to be disrespectful. We don’t need to talk about them as criminals. They’re not. They’re families that want a better life and they’re desperate to get here.”
Nikki Haley says it’s inappropriate to call the illegal immigrants ‘criminals’:
“We don’t need to be disrespectful. We don’t need to talk about them as criminals. They’re not, they’re families that want a better life.” pic.twitter.com/ypMi4H1Oya
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) January 4, 2024
Haley’s claim was so bad it received a fact-check from X’s Community Notes, which pointed out that US law states: “Entering the United States without following immigration laws is illegal. Anyone who does so is a criminal.”
Other Republicans also seized on the footage, chastising Haley for being an apologist for the globalists’ open border agenda.
Someone let @NikkiHaley know that if you cross the border illegally, you are by definition a criminal.
— Anna Paulina Luna (@realannapaulina) January 4, 2024
Crossing the border outside a port-of-entry is an illegal act. https://t.co/bRAQb0yKr2
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) January 4, 2024
Nikki Haley belongs to the school of thought that says we have to become Democrats to beat Democrats.
2024 is about taking our country back.
We don’t have time for people like Haley who can’t even speak coherently about the illegal, CRIMINAL invasion going on in our country.… https://t.co/PjDyiQq7eI
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) January 4, 2024
“Strongly disagree,” GOP opponent Vivek Ramaswamy responded, sharing the years-old clip.
Strongly disagree. https://t.co/ICGLo8FHUp
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) January 4, 2024
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign also seized on the video recirculating on social media, issuing a press release exposing Haley’s sentiments.
Haley appears to have modified her stance on the subject in recent months, using the term “illegal immigrants” in one social media post last month.
Here’s how we FIX the southern border once and for all:
✔️25,000 more Border Patrol and ICE agents
✔️Mandatory E-Verify
✔️ Defund sanctuary cities
✔️No tax dollars to illegal immigrants
✔️Remain in Mexico
✔️End catch & release, start catch & deport— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) December 7, 2023
Haley seems to be getting closer to grasping the big picture, as the term “illegal” implies “unlawful,” and a person who breaks laws is a “criminal.”
Will Haley revise her stance now that her remarks are being revisited and called out?