Fox News host Laura Ingraham is getting criticized and mocked for telling desperate asylum seekers to apply "in the safety of your home country."
That's not how the law works.
In fact, the U.S. Government's website for asylum seekers literally says, "STEP ONE: Arrive in the U.S."
It explains, "To apply for asylum in the U.S., you must be physically present in the U.S. or seeking entry into the U.S. at a port of entry."
Ingraham began the segment on her show Wednesday night by saying, "Girls are being abused, raped, and in some cases trafficked as part of these caravans," she said, referring to the groups of people fleeing violence, gangs, and drugs in countries like Honduras and Guatemala.
"It is despicable what is happening to these young people," Ingraham added.
"Congress needs to get its head out of the sand and stop this madness once and for all. If someone crosses the border illegally, with rare exception, they should be turned back immediately," she demanded – right after noting these same people "are being abused, raped, and in some cases trafficked."
"If you want to apply for asylum, that's fine. But you should do so in the safety of your home country," Ingraham insisted, ignoring current law, and the obvious fact that these people are fleeing their countries because they are in imminent danger. There is no "safety of your home country" in these cases.
This is the same Laura Ingraham who last year defended the Trump administration's concentration camps for children in the desert by calling them "summer camps."
Many, including the Media Matters researcher who posted the clip below, also noted that Ingraham was donning ashes on her forehead for Ash Wednesday, accusing her of religious hypocrisy.
Here's Ingraham:
Just amazing seeing Laura Ingraham, obviously fresh out of Ash Wednesday Mass, demand that asylum seekers be shippe… https://t.co/g4RFjTgEWl— Andrew Lawrence (@Andrew Lawrence) 1551928897.0
And here's how many are responding:
That's not how this works. YOU MUST BE IN THE US TO APPLY FOR ASYLUM. Ingraham is willfully ignorant.… https://t.co/12Qi2YTbtU— Samantha Kramer (@Samantha Kramer) 1551965288.0
Ingraham makes a statement reflecting total ignorance, lack of comprehension, on what Asylum is. People fleeing th… https://t.co/nwXP5kb8qy— Jeffrey Silverman (@Jeffrey Silverman) 1551961524.0
@JasonSCampbell The worst part is that she’s not a moron. She knows this not only runs counter to existing US & UN… https://t.co/oj0XVE60PK— 306 (@306) 1551964909.0
Paraphrased: “If you’re fleeing violence and imminent death, you should really stay put and do the thing you can’t… https://t.co/66NJFrG0bP— The Hoarse Whisperer (@The Hoarse Whisperer) 1551932198.0
@ParkerMolloy Ummm, yeah, right, Laura Ingraham, because the best thing to do if you are being persecuted in "the s… https://t.co/qAB3t32N6Q— Maggie Walker (@Maggie Walker) 1551941391.0
@ZackFord Pssst! She knows what she is saying. Ingraham is a mega xenophobe.— Holy Bullies (@Holy Bullies) 1551965182.0
@Matty09044592 @JasonSCampbell @SeanBradbery Also, Yazidis and Christians in the Middle East. They didn’t even have… https://t.co/QkvSTfAsXu— Thoughts for My Head (@Thoughts for My Head) 1551964912.0
@HoarseWisperer Dear @IngrahamAngle If your house were on fire, would you stay in the "safety of your home" and w… https://t.co/YeG91xBx65— j howe (@j howe) 1551936417.0
What a stupid take from a so-called experienced journalist! #ingraham doesn’t understand the fundamental problems o… https://t.co/GFiJTRZV7r— SKRATH (@SKRATH) 1551962175.0
RELATED STORIES:
WATCH: DEFIANT WHITE NATIONALIST LAURA INGRAHAM TRIES TO WALK BACK RACIST RANT – FAILS MISERABLY
