Rep.Glenn Ivey: Focus Should Be on Violent Criminals Before Deporting Shoplifters
On Wednesday’s broadcast of NewsNation’s “On Balance,” Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD) argued that due to the severity of violent crime in the U.S., including offenses committed by some immigrants, law enforcement should prioritize those cases before addressing lower-level offenses like shoplifting.
Ivey explained his vote against the Laken Riley Act, citing concerns that it could lead to the deportation of individuals whose charges were dismissed or dropped. He also expressed reservations about granting states the ability to sue the federal government over immigration enforcement.
Highlighting ongoing immigration enforcement efforts, Ivey noted, “At least half of the people they’ve arrested so far haven’t committed any crime whatsoever other than being here. So, I guess you can deport them if you want. But I think most people would say, let’s focus on the murderers and the rapists first and get those guys out. Then, if you’ve got time for the shoplifters, you can go for them too.”
He emphasized that violent criminals—whether immigrants or not—should be the priority. “Let’s get them in front of the courts. Let’s get them prosecuted. If they’re here illegally, deport them after they’ve served their sentence.”