Fox News' Laura Ingraham suggests legal and illegal immigration is ruining America. CNN's Chris Cuomo rebuts.

Laura Ingraham and Chris Cuomo argue over immigration
(Image credit: Screenshots/YouTube/Fox News, CNN)

On Fox News Wednesday night, Laura Ingraham took issue with comments by "new socialist 'it' girl" Alexandria Ocasia-Cortez. Ingraham defended minivans against a perceived slight and asked how Ocasio-Cortez knows about America "from her loft in Queens" — and then she went full nativist.

"In some parts of the country, it does seem like the America that we know and love doesn't exist anymore," Ingraham said. "Massive demographic changes have been foisted upon the American people. And they're changes that none of us ever voted for and most of us don't like." She specifically cited "both illegal and in some cases legal immigration."

"This is exactly what socialists like Ocasio-Cortez want," Ingraham argued: "Eventually diluting and overwhelming your vote with the votes of others who aren't, uh let's face it, too big on Adam Smith and the Federalist Papers." Journalist Jeff Bercovici joked that Ingraham had a point.

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On CNN, Chris Cuomo offered a rebuttal. President Trump "doesn't want immigrants coming in any more than absolutely necessary," he said. "What he really wants to create is an ugly rejection of who made this country great in the first place. And you are staring at the big nose of the truth on your screen right now," he said, pointing to the proof of his Italian heritage. "So my argument is this: How many of you would be here if America was like what Trump wants it to be now? I wouldn't. Would you? ... I don't think you'd make the cut." Peter Weber

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.