A fiery exchange broke out on CNN Wednesday night between Republican strategist Shermichael Singleton and The View co-host Ana Navarro over illegal immigration and President Donald Trump’s latest border enforcement measures. The confrontation centered on the administration’s aggressive stance on deportation and immigration policy enforcement.
President Trump has taken swift executive action since returning to office in January. Among his key moves, Trump designated MS-13, Mexico’s drug cartels, and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua as foreign terrorist organizations. He also invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 in March to expedite the deportation of criminal gang members, prioritizing national security and public safety.
During a CNN segment on the topic, Navarro brought up Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s family history, claiming his grandfather was once in the country illegally and under deportation orders. Singleton immediately challenged the relevance of the claim, saying, “We’re not talking about Marco Rubio.”
Navarro argued Rubio had previously supported Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans and other Latin American groups, using his past stance to criticize current policies. TPS allows certain individuals from countries experiencing ongoing armed conflict or natural disasters to remain in the U.S. temporarily.
Singleton responded bluntly: “If you come to this country illegally, you are going home. Simple as that. We do not have unlimited resources in this country to take care of other people.”
Navarro then shifted the conversation to broader immigration history, stating, “There’s a hell of a lot of people, other than the black people who were brought here as slaves, who came to this country illegally.” Singleton fired back, “They’re not the same as black people, who were brought here against our will.”
The back-and-forth escalated, with Navarro claiming she had “advocated for black people,” and Singleton responding pointedly, “Last time I checked, I’m black. You’re not.” Navarro countered, “That’s right. I’m Latino, and my people are being racially profiled and unfairly treated.”
The segment concluded with both parties sharply defending their positions, highlighting the rising tension surrounding immigration and race discussions in the U.S. under the Trump administration. The exchange underscores the ideological divide as the administration enforces stricter immigration policies while Democrats and media allies push back.
