Scott Jennings obliterates Justin Pearson on immigration stance: 'Will Dems deport no aliens?'

ATLANTA, GEORGIA: A tense immigration debate erupted on Friday, February 20, on CNN NewsNight With Abby Phillip as conservative commentator Scott Jennings repeatedly pressed Tennessee Democrat Justin J Pearson on whether any undocumented immigrants should be deported.

The clash unfolded during a panel discussion about the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown and Democratic efforts to force structural changes to ICE. 

What began as Pearson’s argument for abolishing ICE quickly shifted into a rapid-fire exchange as Jennings sought a direct answer to a yes-or-no question: should any illegal immigrants be deported?

Scott Jennings takes on Democrat stance on immigration

Pearson opened his remarks by sharply criticizing the administration’s handling of immigration enforcement.

“This administration cannot be trusted, and they can be trusted to hold themselves accountable. Even after the killing of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, they didn't want to share information about what was happening, which is why we have to abolish ICE,” Pearson said.

He continued, “We have to abolish the Customs and Border Patrol in the way that they currently exist and replace them with something that actually does the work that we need for them to do, which is why we need a Congress that works and that is effective at holding these people in this administration accountable.”

“I'll tell you what the work is not. The work is not killing American citizens in our community”, Pearson added.

Jennings interjected saying “You said the work we need them to do. I'm interested in your opinion. What is the work that we need them to do?”

 Pearson reiterated that enforcement agencies should not be “killing American citizens” and criticized operations in Memphis, Tennessee.

“They don't need to go into communities like Memphis, Tennessee, where they're currently terrorizing and traumatizing our communities,” Pearson said.

He added that lawmakers should focus on “creating a pathway of opportunity for people who are currently undocumented.”

Scott Jennings presses Justin Pearson

The exchange intensified when Jennings narrowed the focus.

“Do we need a federal law enforcement agency to deport illegal aliens, yes or no?” Jennings asked.

Pearson replied, “We do need a federal law enforcement agency that deals with immigration, that doesn't kill people.”

Jennings shot back: “To deport illegal aliens?”

As Pearson attempted to pivot to broader immigration reform, Jennings pressed again: “Is there a single illegal alien that you would deport?”

“You know, this is what I want you to focus on. Is there one? This is what I want you to focus on,” Pearson responded seemingly trying to ignore the question.

Jennings continued: “Is this the Democratic position for 26? That there are no illegal aliens that should be deported?”

Pearson answered, “The Democratic position in 26 is that we don't terrorize American citizens, we don't terrorize undocumented people, and we don't kill people like Alex Pretti and Renee Good.”

After several attempts to get a direct response, Jennings concluded, “No deportations. That's the Democratic position.”

Clay Travis weighs in on X

The heated exchange quickly spread online, prompting reaction from conservative commentator Clay Travis, who shared the clip on X.

“This guy is running for congress from Memphis and his position, based on his refusal to answer here, is no illegal immigrants should be deported at all. How did this become the position of any Democrat in Tennessee? This is downright insane:” Travis wrote in the caption accompanying the video.

The debate has since fueled broader discussion over Democratic immigration policy and whether calls to abolish ICE amount to an endorsement of ending deportations altogether.