Laura Ingraham: America as we know it doesn’t exist anymore due to ‘demographic changes’

Fox News host Laura Ingraham on Wednesday lamented that the “American we know and love doesn’t exist anymore” because of demographic changes in the country that she blamed on illegal and legal immigration.

Ingraham was reacting to comments from Democratic House candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who described in a recent podcast interview the way the country has changed over the past few decades, including the decline of the upper-middle class. 

“She’s kind of right in a general sense,” Ingraham said after mocking Ocasio-Cortez’s comments.

{mosads}

“In some parts of the country it does seem like the America we know and love doesn’t exist anymore,” Ingraham continued. “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.

“Now much of this is related to both illegal and, in some cases, legal immigration that of course progressives love,” she added.

Ingraham went on to argue that Democrats oppose enforcing immigration laws, which is harming the country. She called for improved border security, the end of sanctuary city policies and the closure of immigration loopholes.

“Remember the old Democrats — maybe some of them Ocasio-Cortez is referring to — they used to think that borders mattered,” she said. “But the new activists believe enforcing immigration laws is essentially an ongoing human rights violation.”

Ingraham’s comments quickly went viral on social media, with some reporters and pundits accusing her of using white nationalist rhetoric.

Speak for yourself, and every other last gasp of a dying gen, @IngrahamAngle. WE love this country’s diversity. https://t.co/2GijMcK6vA

— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) August 9, 2018

Laura Ingraham getting straight to the white nationalist red meat tonight https://t.co/bdRGAzz6bJ

— Brandon Wall (@Walldo) August 9, 2018

The swan song of white nationalism. https://t.co/a6aGFyQa6C

— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) August 9, 2018

President Trump has made cracking down on immigration a cornerstone of his administration. He has repeatedly called on Congress to pass stricter laws and has called the existing U.S. immigration policies the “worst” in the world.

The administration sparked bipartisan backlash when it implemented a “zero tolerance” policy for individuals who cross the border illegally. The policy led to the separation of thousands of migrant children from their parents.

Ingraham praised Trump in her remarks for bringing out “uncomfortable” truths about the country. She also said it was time for Congress to take action on immigration.

“The president can be so persuasive, so give us the whole truth, Mr. President, the good, the bad and, yes, the uncomfortable,” she said.

“This is a national emergency, and he must demand that Congress act now. There is something slipping away in this country, and it’s not about race or ethnicity. It’s what was once a common understanding by both parties that American citizenship is a privilege, and one that at a minimum requires respect for the rule of law and loyalty to our constitution.”