CNN’s Don Lemon definitely wasn’t expecting this one. During an appearance on CNN Tonight last week, Mexican-American comedian and actor Paul Rodriguez shocked Lemon when he spoke candidly about deportation and the importance of enforcing our immigration laws.
“I love this Don Lemon interview with Paul Rodriguez, a comedian and actor,” Pat said on radio this morning. “He obviously just assumed that because he's of Hispanic origin and an immigrant to this country, he obviously is in favor of all of these people flooding into our country. But not so much.”
Lemon asked Rodriguez why “we are so divided as country” when it comes to immigration. Rodriguez was quite matter of fact in his response, explaining that there is nothing to be divided over.
“I don't think we are divided,” Rodriguez said. “I think America has its heart in the right place. We need to be compassionate. We need to be strong and enforce our laws.”
He went on to explain that allowing these children to remain in the country without the slightest bit of retribution sends a dangerous message.
“You know, my heart goes out to the parents that have to traumatize their kids to go through Mexico. They must go through terrible abuse,” he said. “But at the same time, if we accept these children and we don't repatriate them, it's only going to send out a clear signal to everyone in Latin America that, if you get to America, you will stay here. And then, if you think those numbers are big now, it's hard to trust the statistics.”
Judging by his response, Lemon did not know what to make of the comedian’s comments.
“People -- people may be surprised to hear that coming from someone who is an immigrant,” Lemon said.
Watch the full exchange below:
“Let me translate Don Lemon bull crap to English: ‘I'm surprised to hear this coming from a Hispanic.’ That's what he's saying… This is the right attitude. We have to be compassionate,” Glenn concluded. “But you know what? We are not being compassionate. Think about how misplaced our compassion is by saying we are going to be a nation without enforcing our own laws. That's what they are escaping… They are coming here because they don't have a nation of laws… [And] that's what we're turning into.”