Conservative activist Charlie Kirk sounded the alarm this week over reports that some Republicans are pushing for immigration amnesty, a move he warns could fracture the conservative political base, the Daily Caller reported.
Concerns arose after former President Donald Trump said his administration is developing legislation aimed at helping farmers and the hospitality industry retain illegal immigrant workers.
During a Thursday speech, Trump told supporters his administration was working on a bill to support farm and leisure industries in holding on to their undocumented laborers. The remark followed a briefing from USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, who said farmers are struggling due to labor shortages.
Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, responded Monday on his program, warning that attempts to legalize undocumented laborers would unravel the conservative base built under Trump’s leadership. He described the issue as a serious threat to the Republican coalition.
According to Kirk, internal talks are taking place among GOP figures about a potential legislative proposal narrowly focused on sectors like farming and hospitality. While no legislation has been confirmed, Kirk said sources close to the effort were working aggressively.
“So we don’t know any details,” Kirk said, “but it looks as if President Trump might be in preliminary discussions,” adding that pressure for action was coming from politically influential voices.
Kirk said the corporate lobbying class prefers to rely on undocumented workers to avoid paying higher wages to Americans. He challenged the idea that food production depends on low-wage foreign labor, pointing out other nations operate agriculture without such reliance.
“The corporate class is deathly afraid that they might actually have to hire Americans and pay a higher wage,” Kirk said. He argued that rewarding laborers who entered the country illegally undercuts national sovereignty and hurts domestic job seekers.
He insisted the solution is to deport undocumented workers rather than pass transitional legislation. “We did not run on mass amnesty,” Kirk said. “We ran on mass deportations.”
Kirk invoked Ronald Reagan’s 1986 amnesty measure, arguing it failed to secure long-term Hispanic support for Republicans. He warned that repeating similar policies could lead to the same outcome and alienate current GOP supporters.
“We tried the transition argument,” he said. “And we are told, ‘Hey, if we do this, Hispanics will vote Republican for a generation.’” He disputed this logic, claiming past experience disproved the theory.
He credited the firm stance against amnesty during recent election cycles for increasing conservative appeal to Hispanic voters. “We are winning Hispanics in a way we’ve never won them before because we are so firm on immigration,” he said.
Kirk also criticized longtime Republican consultant Karl Rove and others for promoting a center-right approach that includes amnesty options. He said such advice consistently failed both strategically and legislatively.
“Everything you have suggested the last 20 years has been wrong,” said Kirk, referencing trade, immigration, and foreign policy decisions. He argued the GOP should reject guidance that contradicts grassroots sentiments.
Calling amnesty a “red line,” Kirk emphasized he still believed Trump would refrain from supporting such proposals, but warned any indication otherwise would damage trust among the Republican base.
