Fox News Host Jessica Tarlov Critiques Elie Mystal’s Comments on Undocumented Immigrants During Heated Discussion on ‘The Five’

On a recent episode of The Five on Fox News, a fiery debate erupted between co-hosts over the controversial remarks made by Elie Mystal, a progressive commentator and legal analyst on MSNBC. Mystal had sparked backlash during a Friday podcast when he suggested that he would not care about the immigration status of the person who murdered him, arguing that the focus should be on the crime itself rather than the criminal’s legal status.

The controversy began when a clip of Mystal’s comments was played on the show, with him stating, “If I get shot, if I get murdered by an undocumented immigrant, please tell my children I did not care that they were undocumented.” This statement quickly became the subject of sharp criticism from Mystal’s detractors, who argued that it oversimplified a complex issue and undermined the dangers of illegal immigration.

As the co-hosts took turns weighing in, Fox News host Dana Perino directed the conversation to Jessica Tarlov, who represents the liberal viewpoint on the show. Perino asked, “Jessica, does it drive you crazy that Mystal is always on TV causing problems for Democrats?” Tarlov, who often finds herself at odds with her conservative counterparts, responded with humor, “Causing problems for me, that’s for sure.”

Tarlov went on to explain her position, noting that while it is important to acknowledge progress made in controlling border crossings, Mystal’s statement was problematic. She suggested that while it is crucial to criticize policies that aren’t working, such as immigration enforcement, Mystal’s comment about being unbothered by the status of the person who might commit a crime against him was an extreme and divisive perspective. “It’s not great,” Tarlov admitted, acknowledging that Mystal’s comments might have been taken out of context but still felt inappropriate.

Tarlov then elaborated on how policies related to immigration and labor affect American industries, including agriculture and hospitality. She argued that despite the rhetoric around undocumented immigrants, their contributions to industries such as agriculture and hospitality cannot be easily dismissed. She pointed to the labor shortages being experienced in restaurants and hotels, industries that rely heavily on immigrant labor. “The hotel industry, the construction industry, restaurants, this is where you feel it, and you are seeing staffing issues at restaurants,” she said.

The debate took a more personal turn when Tarlov and co-host Jesse Watters sparred over the impact of immigration on the economy. Watters challenged Tarlov’s claims, citing the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s reports that strawberry prices remained stable. However, Tarlov countered by pointing out that the full impact of labor shortages was not immediately evident in areas like strawberry prices but was more apparent in sectors reliant on service workers.

The conversation quickly became more heated when Watters jokingly dismissed Tarlov’s views by claiming he was a creationist and did not believe in the evolution of economic processes. Tarlov shot back, humorously adding, “That explains a lot about you.” Despite the tension, Tarlov remained firm in her stance that undocumented immigrants play an important role in the U.S. workforce and that the political discourse should reflect that complexity.

Ultimately, the discussion on The Five highlighted the deep divides within American political discourse on immigration, labor, and crime. While Tarlov defended a nuanced approach to the issue, Mystal’s remarks served as a lightning rod for criticism and sparked a larger conversation about the intersection of immigration policy and public safety. Whether or not Tarlov and Watters can reach common ground on these issues remains to be seen, but the debate is certainly far from over.