WASHINGTON, D.C. - Texas Democrat Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett claimed on MSNBC’s "The Katie Phang Show" that illegally entering the United States is “not a crime.” Despite the congresswoman’s protestations 8 U.S. Code § 1325 establishes clearly that improper entry into the United States by an alien is a federal misdemeanor crime.
In the Saturday appearance, Crockett claimed to Phang that entering the U.S. illegally is “not a crime,” but is rather a “civil accusation,” thereby falsely justifying her assertion that illegal immigrants are not criminals by definition.
Under the law according to the Department of Justice, first-time offenders can face fines and up to six months in jail, while repeat offenders could be subjected to up to two years in federal prison in addition to fines.
Worse still, previously removed illegal immigrants who re-enter the U.S. and have been convicted of three or more misdemeanor crimes could see up to 10 years in federal prison. Reentry after a felony conviction carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years as reported by Fox News.
In context, Crockett said, "[Republicans] are so outraged by these immigrants and the crime that they’re bringing. And not to mention, city law enforcement, local law enforcement, they are always going after crime. And they don’t say, ‘oh, you committed a murder, oh, but you’re an immigrant. Well, let me let you go.’ Right? So they are always focused on crime."
She continued, "They continue to say things like ‘the illegals’ and that they broke the law coming in. But what they’re not telling the American people is that it is a civil violation. It is not a criminal violation to enter the country illegally. It’s not. It’s not criminal. It’s not a crime. It’s not a crime. Which is why they’re so frustrated, because they really want our local law enforcement to go out and round up people when they could be looking out for the murderers and the sexual abusers, as well as the robbers. They want them to go and round people up on civil accusations."
Crockett even accused Republicans of hypocrisy and referred to the President as "the biggest criminal" of all.
The overstay of a legally authorized “period of stay” under a visa for example or “unlawful presence,” are in fact civil charges and are not considered criminal offenses.
