Christie clarifies illegal immigration statement

By Matt Friedman | April 28th, 2008 - 2:30pm
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United States Attorney Chris Christie issued a statement today clarifying a remark he made at a public forum in Dover over the weekend.

At the event, sponsored by the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey and hosted by the United Methodist Church at Dover, The Star-Ledger quoted Christie saying that "being in this country without proper documentation is not a crime.”

In today’s statement, The U.S. Attorney’s office wrote that being here without proper documentation and sneaking across the United States border are not the same.

“U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie was asked a direct question on Sunday at a

community forum regarding whether being in the United States without proper documentation as a ‘crime.’ The U.S. Attorney responded that the simple act of being in the United States without proper documentation is not a criminal act under federal law. He further stated that this is typically enforced administratively by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement through deportation hearings. That is correct,” reads the statement.

“This is different from entering into the United States without going through the proper immigration channels, or entering through fraud. That is a federal misdemeanor under Title 8 U.S.C. Section 1325.  He did not say, nor did he mean, that entering this country through any means other than the appropriate immigration channels is a lawful act. It is not.”

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Thank you for the clarification

Submitted by edmac on April 28, 2008 - 1:35pm.

I'm glad Mr. Christie clarified his comments. On the surface they were just too hard to believe. Perhaps the Star-Ledger was going for sensationalism. That would be hard to believe! NOT!

Ashcroft should run.

Submitted by peterendina on April 28, 2008 - 2:26pm.

One of the great legal minds of the 20th century said, "If you don't know what the hell you're talking about, then shut the hell up." That was my father's quote. He attained a formal education up to 7th grade at PS# 18 in Paterson, NJ. More pols should pay attention to the older, wiser portion of our population.

Still double talk if you ask me

Submitted by Richard_Zuendt on April 28, 2008 - 4:49pm.

I like Christie when he is doing the job he is suppose to be doing. But this is just like Obama and his gun and god statement in San Francisco. And just like Obama, Christie is doing a two step to try and get out of saying this very stupid statement. Being in this country without permission is a crime, plain and simple.  It ain't rocket science son.  Stick to being a great prosecutor and cleaning up the crap in this state, you are very good at that.

"The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything."
                --Theodore Roosevelt--

Almost as if...

Submitted by FormerlyAnonymous on April 28, 2008 - 5:22pm.

Gee, it's almost as if Chris Christie were a candidate for office, made a statement that he should have known to be wrong and then his staff stepped in to cover the mistake.

Almost ...

its only going to get worse

Submitted by Mom in Law on April 29, 2008 - 6:25am.

for him when he officially announces. Josh Margolin is probably licking his lips...he needs an exploratory committee so he can hire a handler-quick!

Not fit for Prime Time

Submitted by bergenite on April 29, 2008 - 12:30pm.

This gaff seriously questions his political skills and his inability to corner the moral legal argument

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