Former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo (R., Colo.) lambasted California state Senate leader Kevin de León (D.) on Friday night for calling his immigration views "xenophobic," adding that de León was either not listening or lying about his position.
CNN's "OutFront" host Erin Burnett began the segment by asking de León what he would say to Jamiel Shaw Sr., the father of a slain high school football standout in Los Angeles, who lost his son when an illegal immigrant shot and killed him in 2008.
De León said his heart goes out to the victim's family and that he believes Pedro Espinoza, who was convicted of first-degree murder in 2012 and sentenced to death, is getting what he deserves. However, he was critical of the term "sanctuary city" and said that it was misleading because he does not believe there is an "invisible shield" that will protect undocumented immigrants from getting away with crimes.
Burnett clarified that Shaw Sr. was critical of sanctuary cities because one "can't just blanket all DREAMers and say they are good people. A DREAMer murdered my son."
She then asked De León whether Shaw Sr. had a fair point. The California state lawmaker responded by saying how sorry he was again for the family, but then talked about the importance of not making blanket statements about all immigrants. He added that DREAMers came to this country at a young age because of their parents.
"Understand, please, we're not talking about all immigrants. Of course not," Tancredo said. "A sanctuary city is a place that provides a haven. The mayors of these cities have said openly, 'Don't worry, we won't turn you in. If you come into contact with our police force for doing something wrong, don't worry, we won't tell ICE about you.' That is a sanctuary city."
"People flock to that. People take advantage of that–people who kill Americans," Tancredo added. "This is not just an isolated incident, the Shaw family. This has happened literally–I'm not kidding when I say this–thousands of times throughout this nation."
Tancredo clarified that he was not talking about immigrants who come to the United States for a better life, but rather "people who have violated the law over and over again, but are never reported to ICE because they are given sanctuary."
De León, the California state Senate's president pro tempore, then called Tancredo's comments "xenophobic."
"Look, I can say this, Erin. Tom's comments are incendiary, they're xenophobic, and they look for scapegoats," de León said. "The reality is the vast majority of immigrants are very hardworking. They're law abiding. They're taxpaying residents of this great state."
"What happened to Mr. Shaw was a tragedy, without question, but to actually, you know, provide a blanket statement and accuse immigrants of all being rapists or murderers is just uncalled for. It's not American," de León added.
"Who is doing that? Who has done that? Who has done that?" Tancredo fired back.
"Are you saying that I accused all immigrants of being rapists and murderers?" Tancredo asked. "Do you really say that I said that because, sir, you were not listening if you said that, and if you were listening and say it anyway, then you are of course lying about me and about–which happens over and over when I come on, especially this network."