Sen. John Fetterman said the current situation at the southern border is unsustainable and argued that Democrats should not shy away from supporting border security and the deportation of criminals, remarks that place him at odds with many in his own party.

Fetterman made the comments while discussing immigration enforcement, recent incidents involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and statistics showing a high percentage of migrants arrested by ICE have pending criminal charges.

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His remarks came as immigration policy continues to divide Democrats and Republicans and draw national attention following recent enforcement actions.

“It was skyrocketing, you know, and it’s like, that’s unsustainable,” Fetterman said, referring to the number of migrants entering the country.

“When you reach almost 300,000 people, that’s unsustainable.”

Fetterman said that, in his view, advocating for border security should not be controversial within the Democratic Party.

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“And we need to, you know, as a Democrat, it shouldn’t be unreasonable to want to secure our border and do it in that way,” he said.

He also addressed ICE enforcement and referenced a recent incident in Minneapolis that has been widely reported.

“And now let’s also, let’s also talk about ICE now, absolutely again, what happened in Minneapolis was absolutely tragic,” Fetterman said.

Turning to data reported by The Washington Post, Fetterman cited statistics indicating that a majority of individuals currently apprehended by ICE have criminal issues pending.

“And then now, if you think now, this is from the Washington Post, you know, this is the latest statistics,” he said.

“These are people that ICE now are, though it’s like now, 67% have criminal charges pending ones or that that.”

Fetterman emphasized that the figure represents more than two-thirds of those taken into custody.

“So that’s more than two thirds, you know, the people now,” he said.

At the same time, Fetterman acknowledged that not everyone encountered by ICE is involved in criminal activity.

“Now there are some people that aren’t involved in any kinds of illegal things, you know,” he said.

Fetterman said he believes it is possible to hold two positions at once when it comes to immigration enforcement.

“But so me, I think two things can be true, you know,” he said.

“Round up all the criminals. Deport. Deport them. They shouldn’t have ever been here, and they definitely have to go.”

He added that he does not support blanket accusations or extreme positions and said he is watching developments in Minneapolis closely.

“And now, I don’t know, want to see more and more things happening in Minneapolis now too,” Fetterman said.

Fetterman stressed that he rejects what he described as extreme rhetoric on both sides of the immigration debate.

“So two things must be true, and I strongly reject the extreme on either side,” he said.

He also pointed to past immigration enforcement under former President Barack Obama, noting that large-scale deportations occurred without the same reaction from Democrats that is seen today.

“You know about this now, so we must be true,” Fetterman said.

“And you know, I watched your earlier in your show, you just pointed out President Obama deported, you know, millions of people and there wasn’t having the same kind of outrage here, you know, here is from from Democrats.”

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