There is debate around Democrats’ approach to crime and immigration.
Former Biden communications director Kate Bedingfield argued Democrats should take a tougher stance on crime to address public safety concerns in major cities.
However, she warned against “demagoguery” and scapegoating immigrants.
Bedingfield said, “I think it’s smart for Democrats to be more aggressive on it because people are feeling frightened. Now, I don’t subscribe, to borrow the mayor’s language, I don’t subscribe to the Trump vision of America as a decaying wasteland where packs of people are running wild committing crime, but it is true that people across the country, particularly in cities, are concerned about crime. It is smart for Democrats to be more aggressive about it, to be more responsive to what people are feeling.”
“Now, that, I don‘t believe is where the Democratic Party should be. But I do think that taking on this issue of crime, being tougher is a good thing for Democrats,” continued the former Biden official.
Former Republican lieutenant governor Geoff Duncan said immigration had become a three-dimensional issue, noting the challenges faced by Democratic mayors in cities experiencing population increases.
Geoff Duncan said, “This illegal immigration issue has become three-dimensional. When you watch these cities start to swell and you watch Democrat mayors really struggle with just how to deal with just the structure and the technical details of dealing with this influx. Brian Kemp puts it well, he says, ‘every state is now a border state.’ And, you know, we’ve watched in Georgia, over the past couple of weeks, play out just the awful scenarios of UGA student Laken Riley, who was murdered by an illegal immigrant…. There are two separate issues, but they are – they are blurred into one just horrific issue in Georgia.”
Duncan predicted, “And I think Democrats have this wrong. I think the Biden administration has this wrong. I think Democrats know that. And I think it’s up to mayors to step up and say that out loud, not just tongue in cheek, but out loud say, Joe Biden, you’re wrong, move your feet on this issue.”
He argued the Biden administration’s approach on this issue is wrong.
New York City mayor Eric Adams asserted that violent criminals should not have the privilege of remaining in the city, and called for modifying sanctuary city laws to allow those committing felonies to be turned over to ICE for deportation.
Mayor Adams said, “I don’t believe people who are violent in our city and commit repeated crimes should have the privilege of being in our city.”
“You don’t have the right to be in our city and tarnish the overwhelming number who are here following the rules,” he continued.
“But those small numbers that are committing crimes? We need to modify the sanctuary city law, so that if you commit a felony… we should be able to turn you over to ICE and have you deported,” added Adams.
He concluded, “It is a right to live in this city… and you should not be committing crimes in our city.”
There are divisions around how progressive policies can balance public safety, immigrant rights and addressing voter concerns about crime.
