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Former Governator Blames Both Sides For Immigration Reform Failures

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Arnold Schwarzenegger
Photo Credit: "Arnold Schwarzenegger" by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

Former Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is pointing fingers at both major parties for what he calls a long-standing failure to act on meaningful reform.

Speaking to Variety reporters during the red carpet premiere of his Netflix series Fubar, Schwarzenegger avoided direct commentary on President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to defend federal buildings in response to escalating street protests.

Instead, he redirected the conversation towards legislative inaction, which he views as the root of the problem.

“Well, I’m not so much interested in that as I am that the politicians have the responsibility to create immigration reform so we don’t have to have this crap going on in the first place,” Schwarzenegger told the outlet.

He did not reserve blame for one side of the aisle. Instead, he argued that both Democrats and Republicans have benefited from continued dysfunction.

“This is the result of Democrats and Republicans not being able to come together in this immigration reform,” Schwarzenegger said.

“And so that’s what needs to be done so that you don’t have to go and start arresting people in the first place.”

He accused politicians of putting their heads in the stand, rather than making meaningful immigration reform.

“We don’t even know who is in here,” he noted. “For decades now, they have been avoiding the subject because it’s an advantage to both parties to not do it. So they’re all political hacks, party hacks, rather than public servants.”

The former governor’s remarks came as the state’s current Democratic leadership found itself in a standoff with Washington.

California Governor Gavin Newsom had floated the idea of withholding federal tax payments in retaliation for President Trump’s consideration of cutting federal funding to the state.

Trump’s move came in response to California’s sanctuary policies and recent violent unrest following an ICE operation near Los Angeles.

Schwarzenegger weighed in on Newsom’s plan during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

When asked by host Jimmy Kimmel whether the state could realistically follow through with refusing to send federal tax dollars to Washington, Schwarzenegger was skeptical.

“Is it realistic, this idea that Governor Newsom has floated, that we would just stop paying them the money that we pay them?” Kimmel questioned.

“Well, it sounds always easy, isn’t it?” Schwarzenegger responded. “It doesn’t happen because every individual in California pays taxes, pays the state tax, local tax, and pays federal tax.”

“So how are you going to stop them from doing that?”he wondered. “Then the IRS is coming after you.”

Tensions have risen sharply between the White House and California leadership.

After ICE agents conducted a controversial operation at a Los Angeles-area Home Depot, riots broke out across the city.

Democratic Mayor Karen Bass implemented a curfew, but President Trump responded by calling in National Guard personnel.

Newsom accused the president of “commandeering” forces and choosing “escalation,” airing his grievances in an eight-minute speech.

But Schwarzenegger remained critical of both sides’ rhetoric.

“Look, I just want everyone to know, this is all dialogue. This is rhetoric. The left going after the right, the right going after the left,” he said.

“I mean, the bottom line is, they should get together, rather than always pointing the finger at each other,” the actor added.

“They should really get together and solve this problem because that’s what the American people want. They want to have this problem solved.”

Schwarzenegger, known for his environmental advocacy since leaving public office in 2011, also weighed in on climate politics during a recent address at the Austrian World Summit in Vienna.

He responded to growing pessimism among environmental advocates disillusioned by the Trump administration’s rollback of Obama-era environmental regulations.

The administration has redirected policy focus toward fossil fuel development and energy independence, sharply contrasting with previous commitments to climate initiatives.

But rather than calling out Trump directly, Schwarzenegger challenged environmental activists to focus on local-level change.

“Stop whining and get to work,” he said. He told the audience he frequently hears doubts from environmentalists questioning the point of their efforts.

“‘What is the point of fighting for a clean environment when the government of the United States says climate change is a hoax and coal and oil is the future?’”

His answer to them is blunt: “Stop whining and get to work.”

Schwarzenegger highlighted opportunities at the local and corporate levels to drive real change.

“Be the mayor that makes buses electric; be the CEO who ends fossil fuel dependence; be the school that puts (up) solar roofs,” he urged.

He also made clear that personal attacks on the president are not part of his approach.

“You can’t just sit around and make excuses because one guy in a very nice White House on Pennsylvania Avenue doesn’t agree with you,” Schwarzenegger said, making a clear reference to President Trump without naming him outright.

“Attacking the president is not my style,” he added. “I don’t criticize any president when outside the U.S.”

Frustrated with what he sees as a culture of negativity, Schwarzenegger closed with a call to action and optimism.

“I know that the people are sick and tired of the whining and the complaining and the doom and gloom,” he said.

“The only way we win the people’s hearts and minds is by showing them action that makes their lives better.”

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