Right-wing radio host Ben Ferguson caught the panel on CNN’s “NewsNight” off guard on Thursday with an anecdote about what he said to the undocumented wife of one of his best friends.
“One of my best friends married an illegal immigrant,” said Ferguson, who cohosts the “Verdict” podcast with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). “We had this conversation at dinner, and I said to her, ‘I’m sorry that you decided to break the law. There are a lot of Americans that break laws, and they go to jail. And there’s a consequence for your actions.’”
Host Abby Phillip pressed for clarification, calling it a “very interesting anecdote” amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration.
“And you said to her, ‘You need to be deported?’” Phillip asked.
Ferguson replied: “I said the same thing my dad said to me if I ever got arrested: ‘Don’t expect me to bail you out. You’re accountable for your actions.’”
He claimed he also told the woman, who has children with his close friend: “I think you’re an incredible human being. I love that you have this love with your family and your friends. It doesn’t erase your kindness or your love, the fact that you broke the law.”
When asked if he had reported the woman to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Ferguson said: “I’m not going to call ICE on somebody.”
Pressed on why not, he explained that she had actually appeared on his radio show to talk about her status. And he added: “Because they were working through the process with lawyers while this was happening. They already had an interaction with law. They were already going through the process.”
Other panelists pointed out that many of the people who have been detained by ICE agents in recent weeks are in a similar legal position.
