Former Biden adviser says he doesn’t know if illegal immigration is considered a crime

WASHINGTON (TNND) — During a Senate Budget Committee hearing earlier in the week, Ohio GOP Sen. Bernie Moreno had a heated exchange with a former adviser to President Joe Biden.

During the exchange, Moreno asked Brendan Duke if he thought illegal immigration into the U.S. should be classified as a crime.

“I don’t know anything about this law,” Duke said in response, according to Fox News.

Duke was a senior foreign policy adviser to Biden and now works at the Federal Budget Policy at Center on Budget and Priority Policies.

“Do you think it should be a crime to enter the country illegally?” Moreno pressed Duke.

“I don’t know anything about this,” Duke said. “I’m here to talk about budgets.”

Moreno responded by saying that he didn’t have to be a lawyer to answer a simple question.

“It’s a simple question,” the senator said. “Should it be a crime? I’ll say it slowly. Should it be a crime to enter the United States of America illegally without permission?”

Duke once again said he doesn’t know anything about the specific law Moreno was referring to.

President Donald Trump made mass deportations and cracking down on illegal immigration two of his top priorities when running for office in 2024. Republicans were very critical of President Joe Biden’s immigration policy as many illegal migrants entered the U.S. under his presidency.