Arnold Schwarzenegger isn’t new to public debate. From Hollywood to Sacramento, he’s had a long career of speaking his mind.
Still, his appearance on The View on June 17 caught many off guard.
While the show often features progressive guests and opinions, Schwarzenegger offered something different: a clear, firm defense of legal immigration.
BREAKING Former California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger stuns America saying immigrants have to come to America the LEGAL WAY
“When you come to America, you are a guest and you have to BEHAVE like a guest”
Everybody needs to watch this pic.twitter.com/5PpeFOcKaC
— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) June 17, 2025
Focus on Respect and Contribution
Schwarzenegger’s message wasn’t angry or dramatic. It was measured.
Immigrants, he said, should see themselves as guests; people invited into a country with rules, values, and expectations.
The goal isn’t to shut the door on newcomers. It’s to make sure those who come here do so legally and with respect for the system that welcomed them.
A Tense Backdrop
His comments came as Los Angeles faces its most serious unrest in years.
Since early June, protests and riots have followed ICE raids ordered under President Trump’s renewed deportation push.
National Guard troops and Marines are now patrolling parts of the city. In Compton and other neighborhoods, protestors have waved Mexican flags, set fires, and clashed with police.
It’s a tense situation that adds urgency to the immigration debate.
Legal Immigration vs. Illegal Entry
Schwarzenegger drew a line that many believe is often blurred in political debate.
Legal immigrants, he pointed out, are not the problem. They come through the proper channels and often contribute more to society than they take.
The challenge lies with illegal immigration.
Beyond the legal issue, it places financial and social strain on schools, hospitals, and law enforcement.
Culture and Identity
About 30% of California’s population is of Mexican descent.
For many, flying the Mexican flag is about heritage, not protest. That nuance is worth noting.
Still, when it happens during violent demonstrations, it complicates the message.
It can feel, to many, like a rejection of the American identity that legal immigrants often work hard to embrace.
A Subtle Shift
Schwarzenegger isn’t always in step with conservatives.
During the pandemic, he supported strict lockdowns, even telling critics “screw your freedom.” That drew backlash.
This time, though, he struck a different tone.
Calm, firm, and focused on following the law, giving back, and respecting the country you want to call home.
What It Means Going Forward
For conservatives, it was a meaningful moment.
On a national platform, someone well-known and once politically unpredictable made a clear case for legal immigration and national responsibility.
That doesn’t solve the broader debate, but it helps.
As the situation in California unfolds, voices like Schwarzenegger’s may help shift the conversation toward solutions that work, not just for one party or group, but for the country as a whole.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed
