Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is making headlines for more than his recent projects after making comments about immigrants during an appearance on “The View” Tuesday, June 17. The 77-year-old actor said people who come to America should “behave like a guest” instead of those who would commit crimes, drawing pushback from the show’s hosts.
Schwarzenegger used the interview to levy harsh criticism against both Democrats and Republicans for failing to reform the country’s legal immigration process, a long-held opinion of his.
Comments spark pushback from Goldberg and viewers
When asked how he would handle current unrest around deportations in Los Angeles if he were still in office, Schwarzenegger responded by comparing immigrants to guests in someone’s home.
“I just think the world of the great history that we have with immigrants in America, but the key thing also is, at the same time, that we’ve got to do things legal,” Schwarzenegger said. “That is the most important thing. You’ve got to do things legal, and those people that are doing illegal things in America, and they’re the foreigners, they are not smart, because, when you come to America, you’re a guest, and you have to behave like a guest. When I go to someone’s house, and I’m a guest, then I will do everything I can, keep things clean and to make my bed and to do everything that is the right thing to do rather than committing a crime, or being abusive or something like that, so that doesn’t really work in this country.”
Cohost Whoopi Goldberg challenged his framing.
“A lot of what’s happening right now is people are getting snatched, who shouldn’t be snatched out of the country. People who have visas, people who have all those things,” Goldberg said.
Critics and data dispute the narrative
A January 2025 report from the National Institute of Justice analyzed criminal records in Texas between 2012 and 2018. The study found that migrants residing in the country illegally had the lowest crime rates compared to documented immigrants and U.S.-born citizens.
Similarly, Jacob Stowell, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice at Northeastern University, backs up those claims. “There’s absolutely no evidence – none whatsoever – that that’s what’s happening on this unprecedented level,” he told Northeastern Global News in January. “Not only is crime not going up, it’s not even remaining static.”
Entering the United States is, in itself, a civil crime. Doing so after previously being deported is a felony offense.
Schwarzenegger’s political legacy and personal journey
Schwarzenegger moved to the U.S. from Austria at age 21 in 1968. According to the California Governor’s Library, he became a U.S. citizen in 1983. He served as California’s governor from 2003 to 2011.
The National Governors Association points out his administration was marked by bipartisan legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, an overhaul of the state’s workers’ compensation system — cutting costs by over 35% — and increasing the minimum wage while lowering the state’s unemployment rate.
Reflecting on his experience in the U.S. and the life he’s created for his family, Schwarzenegger said there’s no other country where he would be able to do this.
Schwarzenegger urges immigrants to ‘give back’ to America
Schwarzenegger said immigrants should contribute to the country by giving back to programs like the Special Olympics and after-school activities. “It helps make this country a better place,” he said.
Clips of Schwarzenegger’s comments have made the rounds online. Many users on X praised his stance, while others pushed back.
One user wrote, “His comments are useless right now due to the current climate.” Even users on conservative Reddit threads voiced disagreement over the phrasing and timing of his remarks.
Schwarzenegger called for immigration reform when speaking on “The View.” He added, “Democrats and Republicans have to come together and solve this issue if they really want to be public servants. If they want to be party servants, and be party hacks and be tied to their ideology, then it won’t happen.”
contributed to this report.