Please watch the following 30 second clip of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticizing President Trump’s planned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids on illegal immigrants. She spoke at a “Speaker in the House” event hosted by New York Rep. Grace Meng. The deportation operation was scheduled to take place last weekend, however it was called off after information about specific locations was leaked.

The plan had called for about 2000 illegals who have failed to comply with court orders to leave the U.S.  Each had been offered legal assistance and a 30-day pass in February.

Pelosi on immigration laws: “in terms of interior enforcement…what’s the point”https://t.co/VDSNMJ4Cc8 pic.twitter.com/7GsZP7uCr9

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 24, 2019

Here is what Pelosi had to say:

When I saw that the president was going to have these raids, I mean it was so appalling. It’s outside the circle of civilized human behavior to just be kicking down doors, splitting up families, and the rest of that, in addition to the injustices that are happening at the border. We have legislation to go forward to address those needs, but in terms of interior enforcement, what’s the – what’s the point?

The most powerful Democrat in the U.S. government, the leader of the House of Representatives, which is charged with passing legislation asks “what is the point” of enforcing U.S. immigration laws?

Because we are a nation of laws Nancy and generally, we follow the existing laws until Congress passes new ones.

In the video below, Pelosi discusses her Friday evening phone call with the President. She said she told him that,  “a violation of status is not a reason for deportation.” She told her audience,

That’s just not so. If you have some case you want to make about somebody who’s been accused … that has nothing to do with violation of status because then we’re talking about over 10 million people who may be subjected to this treatment, and what we need there is comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship.

Later on she added, “You cannot be ignoring the rights of immigrants to our country.”

Actually Nancy, a violation of status is a reason for deportation.

Pelosi’s comments were echoed by 2020 hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in an appearance on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday.

Host Margaret Brennan asked, “There are ICE raids set to start Sunday morning. Estimates of some 2000 people or so who will be targeted, is this appropriate?”

Sanders replied, “No, it’s not. It is absolutely not appropriate.”

Brennan questioned him further. “But specifically on this point, the two thousand that are supposed to be targeted haven’t shown up for a court date so essentially they’re- they’re not following the asylum process. The legal standards when they’re here. So should they be prosecuted, should they be deported?”

Bernie responded, “I don’t- I don’t like this deportation thing at all and I think Trump uses this as a beginning to do worse things to come.”

Two long-time lawmakers have criticized the President for enforcing U.S. laws? One questions the point of the laws. The other says he doesn’t “like this deportation thing at all.” And many others share this view.  They just don’t state it quite so bluntly.

Just one question. If lawmakers are allowed to pick and choose which laws to enforce, what’s the point of enforcing any laws?