Arnold Schwarzenegger made waves during a recent appearance on “The View” when he steered a conversation about ICE raids toward emphasizing the importance of legal immigration. The Austrian-born actor and politician countered host Joy Behar’s attempt to focus on anti-ICE narratives by stressing that immigrants should “behave like guests” in America and follow the law. How did Schwarzenegger’s journey to America affect his views?
Schwarzenegger’s Immigrant Perspective Challenges ‘The View’ Narrative
During his recent appearance on “The View,” Arnold Schwarzenegger redirected a conversation about ICE raids to emphasize the importance of legal immigration and immigrant responsibility. The former California governor and action star drew from his own experience as an immigrant from Austria who achieved the American dream through hard work and determination.
When host Joy Behar attempted to steer the conversation toward criticism of immigration enforcement, Schwarzenegger responded with candor about immigrant responsibilities. “When you come to America, you’re a guest, and you have to behave like a guest,” Schwarzenegger stated, comparing it to visiting someone’s home where you should “keep things clean” rather than “committing a crime or being abusive.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger doesn't take the bait when The View's Joy Behar asks him about the ICE raids in California:
"I'm so, so happy to see first-hand that this IS the greatest country in the world and it IS the land of opportunity…
…When you come to America, you're a guest.… pic.twitter.com/4FKa47Q6KM
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) June 17, 2025
Countering Host Interruptions with Personal Experience
Co-hosts Sunny Hostin and Whoopi Goldberg attempted to interrupt Schwarzenegger’s points with counterarguments about immigrant crime statistics. Hostin claimed that “immigrants are much less likely to commit crimes in this country than actual American-born citizens,” while Goldberg added that “90% of the people who come here are trying to do the right thing.”
Despite these interruptions, Schwarzenegger maintained his focus on the importance of legal immigration and giving back to the country. He expressed pride in his journey from immigrant to American citizen, stating, “I’m so proud and happy that I was embraced by the American people like that.”
Wow…
I just watched Arnold Schwarzenegger TERMINATE the braindead hens on The View. 💀💀💀
I doubt he'll "be back" 🤣 pic.twitter.com/VscjlAOCgD
— HOJO! (@HWDesper) June 18, 2025
Calling for Bipartisan Immigration Reform
Beyond his comments about immigrant responsibility, Schwarzenegger criticized both political parties for their handling of immigration issues. “All of this is happening because we don’t have immigration reform,” he noted, calling on Democrats and Republicans to “come together and solve this issue if they really want to be public servants.”
The former governor accused politicians of being “party hacks” who use immigration for fundraising rather than finding solutions. He also criticized media portrayals of Los Angeles as a “war zone” during anti-ICE protests, agreeing with Jimmy Kimmel’s assessment that such characterizations were exaggerated.
Schwarzenegger emphasized that immigrants have a responsibility to contribute positively to American society through community service. “You have a responsibility as an immigrant to give back to America and to pay back to America,” he stated, suggesting involvement in “after-school programs, Special Olympics, or whatever it is” to help make the country a better place.
Throughout the exchange, Schwarzenegger demonstrated his ability to navigate contentious political topics with his characteristic straightforward style. His perspective as both an immigrant and former government official offered a nuanced take on immigration that acknowledged both the opportunities America provides and the responsibilities that come with them.