Violating U.S. sovereignty is apparently no more serious than forgetting to pay a parking meter – or so we’re told by progressive pundits and Democrat politicians now parroting the line that being in the United States illegally is “just a civil offense.” It’s a lie so ridiculous and transparent that it could only come from the same crowd that insists men can get pregnant.
Amid anti-ICE riots erupting in cities across the country, the activist left has gone all-in on this absurd talking point that began on cable news networks and is now spreading like wildfire on social media. In April, CNN’s Abby Phillip boldly declared, “Coming into the country illegally is a civil offense, not a criminal offense.” In March, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) went even further on MSNBC, flat-out claiming that entering the U.S. illegally is “not a crime” at all.
Now, liberal commentators and left-wing TikTok influencers are comparing illegal entry to “jaywalking” and scolding anyone who dares to disagree. As journalist Collin Rugg recently reported, “Many large creators are releasing extremely similar statements where they shame other creators for not ‘speaking out’ against the [ICE] raids.”
This narrative is not just misleading—it’s deliberately dishonest. Here are the facts.
Under 8 U.S. Code Section 1325, it is a federal misdemeanor to cross into the United States without authorization at a legal port of entry. First-time illegal entry is punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine. If you’re caught, deported, and then re-enter the U.S. again without authorization, you’ve committed a felony under 8 U.S. Code Section 1326, and you can face up to two years in prison, or more if aggravating factors apply.
In other words, entering the country illegally is a crime. Entering illegally again is a serious crime. The only time a “civil violation” applies is in the case of visa overstays – when someone enters legally and then fails to leave. But the left is using this single scenario to paint all 10–15 million illegal aliens in the U.S. as victims of some harmless paperwork mishap.
It’s disingenuous, manipulative, and an insult to the millions of American immigrants who have followed the letter of the law to come here.
Even if we accept the premise that overstaying a visa is “only” a civil offense, does that somehow make it okay? Should we excuse it? Calling something a “civil offense” doesn’t mean “not illegal.” It just means it’s processed differently.
Consider other civil violations: tax fraud, sexual harassment in the workplace, failure to pay child support, violations of housing codes – all of these are classified as civil offenses in various contexts.
This is where the left’s logic completely collapses. If “it’s just a civil offense” is an acceptable moral standard, then what else should we tolerate? Identity theft? Making unwanted sexual advances at work? Should we go ahead and abolish OSHA while we’re at it?
Of course not. But for some reason, when it comes to illegal immigration, suddenly all violations are excusable, every border is imaginary, and any attempt to enforce the law is an act of oppression.
And we all see the consequences with our own eyes.
Ask the families of Americans who’ve lost loved ones to crimes committed by illegal aliens if unchecked mass migration is merely a “civil” matter. Ask border town officials dealing with drug cartels, human traffickers, and gangs that have taken root in their communities. Ask blue-collar workers whose wages have been undercut by cheap, illegal labor. Ask the parents of Laken Riley, the Georgia nursing student murdered last year by illegal alien Jose Ibarra.
Even some on the right might be tempted to dismiss the “civil” and “criminal” distinction as just semantics. But in truth, what the left is doing is far more dangerous. What this latest messaging campaign is really about is erasing the moral and legal clarity surrounding illegal immigration. It is about laundering lawlessness through sanitized language and normalizing something that should be entirely reprehensible to every law-abiding American.
The truth is, deportation is already a lenient punishment for illegal entry. The federal government has every right under the law to lock up those who violate our borders, especially repeat offenders. But instead of enforcing those laws, the left wants to redefine them, then shame anyone who disagrees.
In the end, this entire narrative isn’t about clarifying legal categories. It’s about advancing an open borders agenda – one that is so indefensible they’re now resorting to gaslighting the American public into thinking illegal immigration isn’t even illegal. They’re trying to “sanewash” chaos by making it sound softer, friendlier, more palatable.
This isn’t “compassion” or “justice” – it’s capitulation and betrayal. No matter how many faces the left attempts to put on their crusade to erase our borders, the American people should reject all of them outright.
Shane Harris is the Editor in Chief of AMAC Newsline. You can follow him on X @shaneharris513.
SOVEREIGNTY. Don’t understand it? Don’t get it? Get educated instead of watching your damned cellphones. The United States is a sovereign Constitutional republic. Its resident population are called citizens. if you are not a resident, you are not a citizen. Since the country’s citizens are ruled by a body of laws which they instituted, including the Constitution, then, if you are not a resident and cross the line, you are here illegally, not a citizen, and are violating the country’s sovereignty. Simple concept. If you cannot understand that, go back to school. If you do not accept that, move to China. See how they treat you if you violate their sovereignty. .
The Leftist Demos with MSM support, continue to stir the pot with their false rhetoric, creating turmoil around the nation. Overall, the Demos are still desperate. The small fourth paragraph says it all — “This narrative is not just misleading — it’s deliberately dishonest.”
Right on. I remember when local police arrested illegal aliens and detained them till immigration came to pick them up for deportation. This is something we still need
Let’s face it .If elections are run fairly the Dems CAN’T WIN and they know it !.They couldn’t win last time because Lara Trump and mr.Whatley did a great job in stopping the cheating….SO thusly they let in 21 million illegals so they can get them voting and “CHEAT AGAIN”.You do not have to be an Einstein to figure them out. They just want power to turn us into the USA Soviet style country. I SAY NO and so does the majority of great””so far””Americans!!!.
Making up things in a crusade to erase our borders is harmful disloyalty. These critics do have freedom of speech. That said YES, rational citizens should reject all these made up excuses outfight.
The left distorts the language to weasel-word their way out of responsibility for anything and everything. And if that doesn’t work they excuse the criminal because they lack white privilege. In their utopia there is no wrong (except disagreeing with them).
The rotten, radical liberals lie every time they are speaking. There have been hundreds of times that their lies have been uncovered yet their die-hard followers still believe them. It is difficult to understand. Until the liberals receive some dire punishment for their lies, it will not end. One would think losing the last election would have driven more followers away from their corrupt, evil policies, but it seems it did not. There is no hope for people who do not want to see the TRUTH in this world. These naive, ignorant people don’t want to admit they were wrong.
This viewpoint that entering America illegally is lacking in any degree of criminality will continue until citizens DEMAND that the Congress and other elected “representatives” uphold/enforce the law and ensure prosecution/penalties for violation. And if they will not…then ALL laws MUST become unenforceable…starting with TAX LAWS. If immigrants cannot be prosecuted/punished for their violation of our laws, then Citizens cannot be prosecuted for ignoring the legal requirement to pay taxes, or follow speed limit laws, or laws against MURDER of anyone (like elected representatives)…
The same old Democratic Rhetoric!
This is why President Trump got Elected.
Everyone is tired of THIS TYPE OF INSANITY!
Maybe fight fire with fire. A version of a peaceful protest. Go to these people’s homes and walk in their backyard and just sit down, like a peaceful protest. Don’t disturb nothing.
In their eyes and words, you are doing nothing wrong, if they call the police, they are a hypocrite.
What a great way on video to call them out!
I guarantee that if we shipped a busload of illegals to the Pelosi vineyard in California and told them to go make yourself at home, set up camps, feel free to eat the grapes. And then told Pelosi that she was responsible for feeding them, paying their medical bills, and being responsible for their actions, she would freak out and call the police (whom she hates) to remove them from “HER” property immediately.
When law makers encourage violence and breaking of the law, they are criminals ,of course they will excuse that which they endorse and engage in. As long as taxpayer and voter puts up with it it won’t stop.
illegal is illegal is illegal. PERIOD!
Well written and completely factual. The real crime was four years of an incompetent Joe Biden.
Leftist lie? Not surprising, is it? Guiliani cleaned up NYC by using the “broken windows” concept. If you ignore a “small” crime, it will inevitably lead to larger crimes! As Barney used to say, “Nip it in the bud!” Throw out ALL illegals unless they leave voluntarily and GET IN LINE behind the legal waiters!
The hypocritical Left and Marxist Democrats dont get it, until their family member gets killed!!!!
Sheer stupidity and hypocrisy.
SUICIDAL EMPATHY! … Let them cut their own throats with this narrative! Voters are leaving the ranks of the Dem’s by the droves! I don’t need to understand why they are doing it and its OK with me. Lets see just how many AOC or Crockett followers there really are in this country come 2026!
Great article to educate the victims of the Democrat deceivers & liars. Without borders & without laws our country will cease to exist and that is exactly what our enemies are aiming for, that is why they are funding these riots, and their “puppet” Democrat politicians who are greedy for power are letting them. Pray for wisdom to see the truth and defend our Republic’s Constitution.
I would like to see all these dim dems rounded up and flown and dropped into North Korea, China or Russia. Let them see what it means to “invade” another sovereign country. And I would prefer that they not be sent back to the USA. They are not needed here!
I’d like to know just what the left/media think is a crime. Are there any laws they obey? If they obey some laws, why not others? Do some people have to obey laws and not others? Are laws fungible, or specific? But I guess I’m expecting the left to make sense, when I know I’ll be disappointed.
My gosh, Democrats and G. Soros are mighty busy spreading garbage about ICE!
Great article, and so informative. It begs the question, Why are these foreign and illegals so cherished by the democrats and our MSM? I have ruled out compassion, as it has been well published the hardships many of the aliens suffered when they answered the invitation of Biden, who we now know, was senile and only doing what the puppeteer told him to do. The winners are the cartel, who have created modern day slavery, and so the democrat party, as they have hopes of free labor, that will cause Americans to lose in the labor market
You’ve got to remember, the Marxist/democrats play by a different set of rules. Good for me, not for you. They have no answers, only an agenda that follows the globalists.
It’s propaganda for the gullible so more rioters against ICE will rise up in their neighborhoods that the left organizations won’t have to pay. Running out of funding maybe??
Hopefully most won’t fall for this ‘slight of hand’ calling it something it isn’t. But some will because they look for excuses to express inner anger in a physical way, and without guilt. It won’t work for them if they wind up being arrested though. But hey, organizers won’t be paying for them but will still be getting the results they want. WAKE UP people.
Even Duct tape can’t fix the stupidity of the DEMs.
What is it about the word, illegal, that some people don’t understand?
It’s time to arrest the governmental criminal backers and aiders. They are blatantly interfering with law enforcement. Just because they disagree with it, make money from it and get elected by it, does not make it legal. ARREST them, throw them in jail and throw away the key.
It’s a plan to further the illegitimacy of America the country and those who govern her at this moment in time. I heard one war monger in LA say yesterday we should get all the countries Trump has banned to get involved with us to overthrow America. Another chimed in let’s burn Ametica down. They need all these illegals, paid to destroy America, to join them. It is not about supporting the illegals it is about making them into soldiers to overthrow America. Everything the dems do is illegal but was accepted the last 4 years and during Obama’s dictatorship. What did we do, nothing? Rand Paul and Lindsey Graham and other RINOs are obstructing Trump at every turn. No wonder the dems take to the streets and wage war. They know we are law abiding moral people. Senator Fetterman is the only voice of decency and compassion and they call him deranged. They will not debate they will not sit down and talk about what is best for the country. As soon as Trump and his cabinet make a decision they sue him or start anti propaganda to cut him down. They say it is because of Trump but don’t be misled it is about destroying this country. The billionaires from Bernie Sanders on down, including Obama’s Clinton’s Pelosi’s Schumer’s, AOC, Crockett, Ilhan, and a few more. The last one who came here to destroy this country and the rest got rich on following those who bribed them or through insider trading information. Number one on that list is Joe Biden and his family. Yet here we are. The billionaires in Davos are succeeding. With a peace loving president.in the White House. The dems progressive brainwashing was very successful with the non educated aliens that were imported by the Biden regime. We need to speak up will we survive this takeover from the left.
Another crime, that remains unpunished, is they use America’s social security numbers to apply for the jobs. And our government doesn’t do anything about it. If you find out that someone is using your number, and complain, the governments only recourse is tell you to change your number.
Even the grossly naive, misinformed, under informed American citizens, mostly democrats, know that illegal entry into our nation is a felony, not a misdemeanor. The overt liars of the leftist party use the same old mantra ad infinitum, repeat a lie long enough and you will make some of the people believers. Democrat politicians have morphed into the least desirable people in America. They are loathsome, amoral individuals that will stoop to the very bottom to get what they want, not what the American people want.
Too bad the guy didn’t get to all the democrats he had on his list.
With the recent “re-definition” of what an Insurrection is, Aunt Maxine, AOCrazy, and any elected official whom supports the illegal activity and invasion that has occurred should also be tried, drug through the mud, slandered, misrepresented and impeached!
I don’t know where the false numbers of 10-15 million illegal aliens is derived.
This has been happening clear back into the 1970s There were 10 million when President Reagan was in office. My personal estimate is 45 million illegal aliens. Look around you. Wake up. We have a problem and the pimple is about to pop.
we wouldn’t use the term ‘illegal ‘if it wasn’t a violation of the law. duh!!!!!!!
Bottom line…You can’t get the illegals to vote Democratic if you remove them from this country…getting their vote has been the plan all along…arrest them and get them out now.
imagine,facts are clearer than retoric.
Know the several differences between “U.S. Citizenship” and the many variations of “guest” visiting our country
LEFT plots to undermine the legally elected administration amounts to declaring war! Global elites fund violent protests, legal armies, and organization via tax exempt foundations. What more could they do before we recognize the war?
I very definitely agree with this article. If you go to another country, and enter illegally, i bet you are not allowed to go about doing what ever you wish to do. I would guess that you would be arrested, put in jail, and tried in a court, and at best deported, or worse sentenced to time in prison before being deported.
great article
Whoever is pushing that false narrative should be arrested for aiding and abetting crimes.
when all of the vicious criminals are deported, the govt. will go after the next level of criminals.
this was done to give ALL illegal aliens time to return from where they came.
if an illegal alien does not do this they have defied our laws and our kindness!
I don’t remember anyone, even in conservative news, making the distinction between what constitutes a misdemeanor, a felony, and a civil offense when it comes to illegal immigration. Both sides of the political fence just seem to want to keep arguing in vague generalizations.Thank you, Shane Harris, for that simple but very useful revelation!
We do reject them all. Change the words to change the meaning. Like fauci changed the definition in the dictionary to include his death jab. Just as dangerous. Just as immoral. Ethics and morals could be a course at school
“But instead of enforcing those laws, the left wants to redefine them, then shame anyone who disagrees.” This statement near the end of the article is Exactly What the Democrat ‘establishment’ and their politicians have been doing for 50 years at least. They’ve been ignoring to the point of breaking those laws that don’t fit their aims, and in such large numbers (paid activists) that no actual legal action is ever taken. Even if there are arrests, they are released the next day, perhaps fined for a misdemeanor.
When is Accountability going to again become a REAL thing in government?
There is a whole bunch of illegitimate illegal bureaucratic politicians sitting in the, multi millionaires club called Congress, that are so out of touch and do NOT uphold the laws! They all should be DEPORTED from Congress!
See also: “Piven and Cloward”.
Both the Republican and Democrats have allowed illegal immigration for decades. They have refused to resolve this problem. Now, that they are trying to correct what BIden did by allowing thousands of illegals her, they are destroying families that have been here 20, 30, years. This is not right. You let the in and then you Kick them out. The injustice in this are the families that are being destroyed. The democrat destroyed the Black families. then the Gays by redefining what a family is and now the Republicans are destroying families. Most of whom are Hispanic and have contributed to our economy. Americans don’t want the jobs these people do in the fiends, or cleaning toilets or skinning chickens or picking crops in the hot sun. Who will take over their jobs? Certainly not spoiled rotten Americans!