CNN’s Cuomo Grills AZ Sheriff: How Does ‘Villainizing These Kids’ Help Border Crisis?

New Day host Chris Cuomo grilled Arizona Sheriff Paul Babeu Wednesday morning over the lawman’s recent comments claiming a good portion of the migrant children apprehended at the border were gang members. “Why paint them all with that brush?” Cuomo asked. “Why prejudice the population with what may be true just about a few?”

“Why don’t we solve the core issue?” Babeu replied. “The core issue is this is an unsecured border. …If you want to get to the discussion of not just the humanitarian issue but the long-term issue of the 11 million to 20 million illegals who are here, secure the border first.”

RELATED: CNN Host to Dem Rep.: ‘Can You Actually Get Anything Done’ on Border Crisis?

“That’s true and it has to be addressed, but do you address it by villainizing these kids?” Cuomo said. “You’re writing them off as gang members. …You’re making it sound like it’s a given that you’re going to get new gangbangers in your community. You know that’s how it’s coming across to many people. You haven’t even met these kids!”

“Do I have a right to know who those kids are?” Babeu said.

“But do you have a right to suggest who they are when you don’t know?” Cuomo asked. “Don’t fearmonger.”

“The federal government should be answering these questions,” Babeu said. “I’m not the villain here.”

Watch the clip below, via CNN:

[Image via screengrab]

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