Arnold Schwarzenegger called out the “stupid system” of immigration in the U.S. and called for reforms including his top priority of a “border that no one can get through.”
The actor and former Republican California governor laid out his immigration thoughts in no uncertain terms in an appearance on ABC’s “The View” on Monday, explaining the need for a secure border and more bipartisan efforts to reform the existing system, which he said is inherently designed to encourage illegal activity.
“You are one of the country’s most famous immigrants and a former two-term Republican governor of California back when Republicans were sane,” co-host Ana Navarro, who calls herself a Republican, asked the 76-year-old “Terminator” star.
“What do you think about the current immigration crisis? Because you have such a unique perspective, and what’s going on at the border. What do you think of President Biden starting to build these 20 miles of wall? What’s your perspective?” Navarro asked the Austrian Schwarzenegger.
Arnold @Schwarzenegger weighs in on the current immigration crisis at the border: “We have to have a really secure border but we’ve got to go in and reform our immigration system.”
“It is a stupid system,” he adds. “The system is set up to commit a crime.” pic.twitter.com/uViNRfQBdK
— The View (@TheView) October 9, 2023
“I’ve seen firsthand how this is not a one kind of a step approach,” Schwarzenegger responded.
“You have to really have comprehensive immigration reform, and you have to look at this immigration problem in a comprehensive way. You can, first of all, I believe very strongly in having a border that no one can get through. That’s number one for me,” he continued.
“Number two, what is important is that we have visas available for people that want to work in the United States, so they don’t have to work illegally. It is bogus, we need the workers here,” he said.
“It’s a stupid system. The system is set up to commit a crime. The system is set up to do something illegally. Why? Why can we not come together, Democrats and Republicans and instead of using this issue always as a fundraising issue for the party to go and sit down together and really to do the service that they’re supposed to do?” Schwarzenegger added.
He explained that he is “more in the middle” on the issue and admitted he is worried about terrorism as it relates to the border, adding the concern about the “great danger” posed by drug cartels as well.
“We have to have a secure border, but we’ve got to go and reform our system. That’s where the action is, I think,” he told “The View” cohosts.
The former professional bodybuilder recounted growing up with the strong influence of his father, a police officer, as he promoted his new book, “Be Useful.”
Thank you so much for having me on to talk about Be Useful @TheView! https://t.co/TSWwrnAusI https://t.co/814UoohQoA
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) October 9, 2023
“No matter what I say in the book,” he said at one point, “none of this that I have accomplished would have been possible if I wouldn’t have been in America. America is the number one place in the world…the opportunities that you have.”
Though Schwarzenegger’s current views on a secure border echoed that of many Americans, social media users on X called out the actor who was vocally very critical of then President Donald Trump and his policies.
Wait wait wait…..just three years ago, walls were racist and sexist and fascist, but NOW they’re good and fine?? Hypocrites!
— Salt Bae (@RaquelWelchh) October 10, 2023
Amazing, Trump was right YET AGAIN
— Adorable Abigail ️⚧️ (@AbbyNKennedy) October 9, 2023
But Arnold was one of the many that made fun of Trump for this idea!
— Christian Guy using facts! (@TwitttrJailBird) October 10, 2023
Hollywood lefties are late to the party but at least they’re ‘woke’ to the border crisis now. Why do they always have to be mugged by reality first?
— Actual Antifascist (@Dog4Running) October 9, 2023
I’m not a Trump supporter, but when he said the same thing he got tremendous backlash and was called racist.
— julien | ジュリアン (@hyperize_io) October 10, 2023
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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