CNN Panelist Claims Migrants ‘Coming Into the Country Without Documents is Not Illegal’

A CNN panelist Monday night explained her objection to the term “illegal alien” because she believes “coming into the country without documents is not illegal.”

In a robust debate on CNN NewsNight, Maria Elena Salinas — a former anchor for Univision — blasted the use of the term “illegal alien” and argued the term is technically incorrect.

“I don’t like to use the word illegal,” Salinas said. “It is undocumented. Coming into the country without documents is not illegal. It is not a crime.”

Conservative podcaster Ben Ferguson vehemently disagreed.

“Yes it is!” Ferguson said.

“It is a misdemeanor,” Salinas replied.

“It’s against the law!” Ferguson said.

“It is a misdemeanor just like DUI is a misdemeanor,” Salinas said.

“I’ve been hit by a drunk driver who died!” Ferguson said. “Don’t tell me that’s a misdemeanor when he crashed my family over at a hundred miles an hour.”

“It is a misdemeanor just like coming into Congress,” Salinas said.

The text of 8 U.S.C. § 1325 reads as follows:

“Any alien who (1) enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers, or (2) eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers, or (3) attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact, shall, for the first commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both, and, for a subsequent commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18, or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.”

Salinas is not the only CNN NewsNight panelist of late to claim that entering the U.S. without proper documentation is not a crime. On the May 7 edition of the show, Bakkari Sellers said crossing the border without papers is “not a crime,” and was quickly fact-checked by host Abby Phillip.

“If they cross the border illegally, it is a type of crime,” Phillip said.

Watch above, via CNN.