CNN's Abby Phillip challenges Scott Jennings on his claim about deported migrants being 'violent people'

WASHINGTON, DC: CNN host Abby Phillip recently locked horns with conservative analyst Scott Jennings when a heated argument ensued regarding the deportation of illegal immigrants. 

During the latest episode of 'CNN NewsNight' on Monday, March 17, Phillip challenged the analyst when he claimed that the deported people are “violent people.”

The heated row during the news show came amid President Donald Trump’s legal battle after federal Judge James Boasberg temporarily ordered his administration to stop sending immigrants back to their native countries citing the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

The Trump administration, however, continued with the deportations after claiming that the illegal immigrants were violent gang members and that the flights were already over international waters, as per the New York Times.

Abby Phillip challenges GOP analyst Scott Jennings on his claims about deportees being ‘violent’

During the episode, the 36-year-old TV host asked Scott Jennings to provide evidence for his claims that immigrants on these flights “are violent people," reported Mediaite.

While the Trump administration continued with the deportation, the president has called for the impeachment of the judge. 

Referencing the situation, Phillip said, “So, maybe it will end up being that the courts might agree with the Trump administration that this is a national security exercise. But it seems like what Donte is saying and what seems self-evident is that there is a process for determining whether that’s true or not, because it’s not obvious that immigration enforcement is like carrying out a war, you know, overseas somewhere in Syria or elsewhere.”

“Well, I think a few things,” Jennings replied, before elaborating, “Number one, we’ve had a number of instances now on immigration and other matters where individual district court judges are trying to effectively substitute their judgment for that of what the White House believes is core function of the presidency as designated by the Constitution.”

He also added, “Number two, on the issue of these deportations, it’s quite clear the president believes he is keeping the United States and its citizens safe from noncitizens who are in the country illegally, first of all, and, second of all, who have a long history of committing very violent acts."

Nevertheless, the broad characterization of the deportees as criminals did not sit well with Phillip, who asked Jenning, “Don’t you think they have to prove that though?”

“Because, I mean, I think that’s — I don’t think anybody disagrees about their ability to deport people who are who are murderers or rapists or whatever, but don’t they have to actually prove that those people are who they say they are and that they’ve carried out those acts of — those criminal acts?” continued the Harvard University graduate. 

After a little back-and-forth, when Phillip asked, “How do we know?” Jennings replied, “Well, because their records have already been pulled. I mean, these people were violent from where they came from, and now they’re here illegally. So, wouldn’t anyone keep them?”

Aby Phillip claims government lawyers couldn’t identify the deported migrants

Following the heated exchange with Scott Jennings, Aby Phillip engaged in a small conversation about the deportees’ identity with 'The View' host Ana Navarro. 

When Navarro asked, “Wait, do we actually know who they are?” Phillip replied, “Well, that’s what I’m saying.”

As the political strategist asked whether their identities were known, the 'CNN NewsNight' host responded, “One of the things happened in the court today, is that the lawyers for the government couldn’t say really who these people were.”