Don Lemon was left humiliated during a cringeworthy street interview after he incorrectly claimed it is not a crime to cross the border illegally.
The former CNN host was given a lesson in the law by a legal Mexican migrant in Chicago who he stopped to interview about the immigration crisis.
During the discussion, the woman rhetorically asked Lemon whether it was illegal to come to the US without proper documentation.
Lemon fired back that it wasn’t a criminal act to illegally cross the border, but a misdemeanor crime.
‘Ok, so why are they being sent back and saying that they’re breaking the law?’ the woman retorted.
‘That’s the point!’ Lemon replied before incorrectly insisting that a misdemeanor is not a crime.
At that point, a second individual interrupted the street interview to ask Lemon whether speeding or drink driving, other misdemeanor offenses, would also be deemed a crime.
During a discussion on the southern border, a woman pressed Don Lemon on whether it was illegal to come to the US without proper documentation
Lemon said crossing the border was not a criminal act, but rather a misdemeanor
‘We have different levels of crime,’ Lemon argued. ‘Everything is not the same.’
‘So it is a crime,’ the woman responded.
Lemon said: ‘It’s not a crime, you’re not breaking the law – I mean, you are breaking the law, but it’s not a criminal act.’
He then dismissed the conversation as ‘semantics,’ adding: ‘You guys are getting things mixed up!’
Title 8 of the US Code prohibits illegal entry and re–entry between ports of entry to the US.
A first offense is a misdemeanor, which is still a criminal offense punishable by a fine or up to six months in prison.
The offense becomes a felony with a maximum sentence of two years in prison if a person who was already deported, ordered removed or denied admission reenters the country.
Lemon went on to argue that those being rounded up and deported under Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown are not all being given due process.
Title 8 of the US Code prohibits illegal entry and re–entry between ports of entry to the US
A first offense is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine or up to six months in prison – and the offense becomes a felony if a person reenters the US
The president has also previously claimed that his mass deportations are designed to weed out violent criminals however many migrants without such histories have been caught up in the removals.
The car crash interview was widely ridiculed on social media.
Ben Pawson wrote on X: ‘Is this guy for real? A misdemeanor is not a crime???’
Another user identified as RepublicCourier said: ‘This is Olympic level gold mental gymnastics.’
A third X user showed support for the woman talking with Lemon.
They wrote: ‘She’s smarter than him and she’s the only one that knows it.’
Roderic Deane said he was ‘surprised’ Lemon even posted the footage. The star had shared it to his YouTube channel on Friday.
He wrote: ‘Extremely surprised he actually published this video. It just goes to show you how totally clueless he is.’
The Daily Mail has contacted Lemon for comment.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .