Democratic strategist Jenna Arnold sparked debate on CNN’s NewsNight with Abby Phillip after warning that a crackdown on illegal immigration could have unexpected consequences—like a shortage of fruit for smoothies. While discussing the Trump administration’s increased deportation efforts, Arnold argued that undocumented workers are vital to certain industries, particularly agriculture.
“I can’t wait until American women can’t get blueberries for their smoothies,” Arnold said sarcastically, pushing back against calls for stricter enforcement. She also claimed that targeting businesses that rely on undocumented workers would “just put immigration-related issues further into the darker corners” rather than solving the underlying problems.
Former Trump White House political director Bill Stephen dismissed the idea that the U.S. economy depends on undocumented workers, saying, “I don’t want to hear that they’re doing work that no one else will do.” The debate intensified when Arnold interrupted him, pointing out that undocumented workers are commonly employed in “picking strawberries.”
The segment quickly gained attention online, with critics mocking Arnold’s comments as an exaggeration, while supporters agreed that mass deportations could disrupt industries that rely on migrant labor. With immigration remaining a divisive issue under Trump’s second term, discussions like this continue to highlight the complexities of the debate.
