‘Go For It!’ CNN’s Maria Cardona Goes Off On Trump’s Mass Deportation Plan, Warns GOP Is ‘Clueless’ About the ‘Backlash’ It Will Spark

CNN’s Maria Cardona exploded at a former Trump official who argued there would be no backlash from the Hispanic community over the promises from President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration to deport tens of millions of undocumented immigrants.

Cardona appeared on CNN News Central Monday along with Giancarlo Sopo, who led Trump’s 2020 campaign efforts for Spanish language media.

In the 2024 race, Trump ran on the promise that he’ll close the southern border with Mexico and stop the influx of undocumented migrants coming into the country.

Sopo said Hispanics agree with Trump’s strong border policy.

“It’s common sense. We simply cannot have millions of people rolling around this country who have been unvetted,” Sopo said. “Many have criminal backgrounds. I agree most of them do just come here cause they want to work and they just want a better life. We don’t know that because we don’t know who they are. So I do not anticipate any kind of major backlash to any kind of border enforcement.”

“Giancarlo, come on! You know better!” Cardona exclaimed. “Our community is going to go through pain. Our community is going to go through cruelty. That is not what anyone voted for.” She continued:

If this is what you all think you have the mandate for, go for it. You’re going to see very quick and very horrifically the kind of backlash you’re going to get. I don’t think people voted for a cost of almost $100 billion that you all are going to spend if, in fact, you are going to deport the 12 to 15 million, some people in your party think it is 20 million, undocumented immigrants that are here.

Go after the criminal. Absolutely. In fact, that’s what every administration has done. But can you actually tell me that Trump’s CEO friends are not going to go crazy when he goes after the undocumented immigrants who actually pick fruits and vegetables? They’re going to say, “What the hell are you doing with my workforce?” This is an administration that has no clue what is about to happen. They are clueless in terms of the real world effects of something like this. They are clueless in terms of real immigration policy and how it affects communities, and what the actual solutions are.

Trump recently announced that he was appointing hardline immigration proponents Tom Homan and Steven Miller to his administration.

Watch the clip above via CNN.