U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, in an interview Tuesday on the Fox Business show “Kudlow,” said most immigrants coming into the country are “garbage.”
Referring to Vice President Kamala Harris, who President Joe Biden said in 2021 would have special duties related to addressing the roots of immigration at the southern border, Tuberville overstated the number of people crossing the border.
“I mean, how can you put somebody in charge of a situation where you let 15, possibly even 20 million people come into our country?” Tuberville said. “Now some of these people are good, but most of them are garbage. They come from jails and prisons in other countries.”
The unauthorized immigrant population in the United States grew to 11 million in 2022, according to new Pew Research Center estimates based on the 2022 American Community Survey, the most recent year available.
AL.com reached out to Tuberville’s office for comment, and a spokesperson emphasized that Tuberville was not talking about legal immigrants:
“Senator Tuberville is all for legal immigration. But Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have allowed more than 10 million people to illegally invade our country — making our neighborhoods, kids, and families less safe. Many of these people are drug traffickers, terrorists, murderers, rapists, and gang members. Don’t believe us? Ask the families of Laken Riley or Rachel Morin. Sen. Tuberville is not afraid to call people who illegally invade our country exactly what they are: criminals.”
“Senator Tuberville’s dehumanizing language referring to migrants as garbage encourages abuse rather than empathy and compassion,” said Heidi Altman, director of federal advocacy at the National Immigration Law Center, according to The Hill.
“This kind of dehumanizing rhetoric has historically led to dangerous, violent, and hateful policies being unleashed against marginalized groups. All leaders of any political persuasion should denounce this as unacceptable in a democratic society.”
