Megyn Kelly tore into Republicans backing a bipartisan immigration proposal, blasting the “Dignity Act” as an amnesty plan in disguise that would let millions of undocumented migrants stay in the US.
“With foreign news dominating … they’re trying to pull a fast one on us right now in the US Congress,” Kelly said Thursday on SiriusXM’s “The Megyn Kelly Show.”
“You could call it a ‘betrayal bill,’ that’s another name for it.”
The conservative commentator warned the legislation would have sweeping consequences if passed.
“If it is passed into law, the so-called ‘Dignity Act’ would make it easier for illegals to stay in the country, millions of them,” she said.
Kelly expressed outrage that Republicans are among the bill’s backers.
“What are the Republicans doing co-sponsoring an amnesty bill?” she said.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.), has drawn support from both sides of the aisle, with 19 Republican co-sponsors and 20 Dems.
Kelly dismissed provisions pairing offers of legal status to illegal immigrants with tougher border enforcement, arguing that similar efforts have repeatedly fallen apart in the past.
“This is what the Republicans who are pro-amnesty always stick in — ‘Oh … we’re going to make it tougher … and that’s really like the price we’re going to pay for amnesty,’” she said.
“That’s never the way it works … What ends up happening is you get the amnesty without the tougher border.”
Kelly warned that enforcement gains would be short-lived.
“The next time you get a Democrat in the White House, the border opens back up,” she said.
“This is no time to be talking about amnesty. What are we doing? Why are we doing this?”
She also blasted provisions allowing certain migrants to remain in the country without fear of deportation.
“I don’t care about them being in fear of deportation,” Kelly said. “You know who’s not in fear of deportation? Americans.”
The former Fox News host said migrants who fear removal from the US should “go home, go back to Ecuador, you won’t be deported, you’re good.”
“This is a far-left concern,” Kelly said.
“Why are we having Republicans making this their agenda, front and center?” she added.
Salazar says the Dignity Act, which was introduced last year, would give illegal immigrants who have been in the US over five years “a chance to work, pay restitution, get right with the law, and earn legal status.”
People who entered the US illegally as minors would get 10 years’ “conditional permanent resident status,” then ” a pathway to adjust to lawful permanent resident … status.” They would be shielded from deportation if they meet requirements including passing background checks and paying “restitution.”
Meanwhile, the bill would tighten immigration enforcement through measures like requiring all US employers to verify workers’ status electronically, “employing a comprehensive Southern Border Strategy” and resolving asylum cases within 60 days.
The legislation remains in committee.
The Post has sought comment from Salazar.
