Libertarian nominee former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson said in an interview Wednesday that the term “illegal immigrant” is “very incendiary.”
Johnson praised immigration in the interview, and said he’d want to “make it as easy as possible to come into this country and work.” The former Governor has previously called President Barack Obama’s executive amnesty “reasonable.”
When asked by Townhall’s Guy Benson about Obama protecting illegal immigrants, Johnson cut in and said, “undocumented by the way. If you use the term ‘illegal immigrants’ that is very incendiary to our Hispanic population here in this country.” When pressed about why it is offensive, Johnson said, “it just is. It just is.”
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He added, “just so you know. Just so you know. So you don’t have to use that term.” Benson asked if the term was accurate, at which point Johnson got irate and said, “They came into this country because they couldn’t get in legally and the jobs existed.”
When asked if coming into this country without documentation is illegal, Johnson evaded answering and first until finally saying,”technically yes.” He then said,” just so that you know when you use that term “illegal immigrants” you are upsetting a lot of people by saying that. Just so you know.”