Kamala Harris claps back at Meghan McCain on border security: 'We can't treat people like criminals'

Presidential hopeful, Senator Kamala Harris, made an appearance on Friday’s episode of The View and fielded questions from the panel on a variety of topics, including healthcare, her clash with Joe Biden, and racial inequality.

But it was her exchange with vocal conservative Meghan McCain about border security that got people buzzing. “We have to have a secure border. But I am in favor of saying that we are not going to treat people who are undocumented and cross the border as criminals,” said Harris.

McCain disagreed with the senator’s position. “I believe if someone crosses over the border illegally it is illegal,” countered McCain.

Harris went on to further explain her position. “I would not make it a crime punishable by jail. It should be a civil enforcement issue but not a criminal enforcement issue,” said Harris. “We can’t treat people like criminals,” she added.

McCain further pressed the issue, explaining “for conservatives, it’s a talking point that we think open borders is something the left wants,” she said. “I understand we have a difference of opinion,” she continued.

“You wouldn’t get rid of DHS?” asked McCain. “No I would not,” responded Harris. “We need to restructure and reform it. It’s been found actually through federal audits to be one of the most dysfunctional of federal agencies. So we need to deal with it and fix it but I do not believe in getting rid of it,” Harris added.

Viewers on Twitter quickly took sides, with many expressing that they felt the senator’s position on border security is a good one, and they appreciated her direct answers to McCain’s questions:

Others expressed confusion over Harris’s plan to make illegal border crossings a civil matter instead of a criminal one, and some thought her response wasn’t direct enough:

The View co-hosts speak out in support of woman who accused airline of racism:

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:

• Olivia Munn criticizes white men who complain about having to watch what they say: 'The rest of us have been doing this forever'

• Veteran meteorologist 'let go' from job after objecting to station's 'Code Red' weather alerts

• Meghan McCain says Gwyneth Paltrow's living situation with her husband 'sounds like rich people stuff'

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