California Republican gubernatorial candidate Caitlyn Jenner staked out a hardline position on illegal immigration Wednesday, endorsing the border wall embraced by former President Donald Trump.
“I am all for the wall,” Jenner told Fox News’ “Hannity”. “I would secure the wall. We can’t have a state — we can’t have a country without a secure wall.”
Later in the interview, the former Olympic gold medalist and “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” fixture vowed to “do my absolute best” to scrap California’s so-called “sanctuary” laws for illegal immigrants.
“It’s not going to be easy, but I will do my absolute best. I am for securing this state,” Jenner said. “I am pro-law enforcement. I am pro-border protection. OK? ICE, [I’m] pro-ICE. We need these people, and they do a wonderful job.”
However, Jenner appeared to sympathize with illegal immigrants who are already in the US, telling host Sean Hannity that “we are a compassionate country” and “we are a compassionate state.”
“I have met some of the greatest immigrants into our country. I had a guy the other day, and he was Spanish, and I’ve known him for 17 years,” she recalled. “And I said, ‘You know what? Come over here, I want to learn something. You know, what is your status?’
“And he said, ‘I’ve been in this country 17 years. This is a gentleman, I mean, this is the greatest guy.’ I want him to be a US citizen, OK? He’s an asset to this state and to this country. But he’s been trying for 17 years to get citizenship … He’s lost two jobs because he didn’t have legal status.
“He finally got this other job where I met him, and he is the nicest, greatest guy. He would make — I mean, I would do everything for him to stay here. And so, you have to deal with it. We have to modernize. We have not modernize our immigration system in the United States to make it possible for people to immigrate into this country.”
Jenner also discussed her status as a prominent transgender female activist, including her recent statement that “California has bigger issues than pronouns” after she was misgendered by “The View” co-host Joy Behar.
“Honestly, my mother, at times, misgenders me,” Jenner said, later adding that “I don’t have a problem with that. The community has a bigger problem with that than I do … For me as a trans woman, I think role models are extremely important for young people.
“Trans issues people struggle with, big time. Our suicide rate is nine times higher than the general public. And for me to be a role model for them, to be out there, I am running for governor of the state of California. Who would have ever thunk that? We’ve never even had a woman governor.”
Caitlyn Jenner is interviewed by Fox News host Sean Hannity, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. Fox News Channel via AP“But some are mad at you,” countered host Sean Hannity.
“That’s — I don’t, you know, I move on,” Jenner answered. “I want to be a role model, and I think — and to be a leader. And I think the most important thing as a leader that you can do is [show] your compassion, your honesty, and I think that sometimes is very lacking in politics.
