Former federal prosecutor Joseph Moreno on Wednesday said that President Trump’s attorney general nominee, William Barr, will likely continue Trump’s immigration policies if confirmed.
“He didn’t back away from the Trump administration’s position on immigration,” Moreno told Hill.TV’s Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti on “Rising,” referring to Barr’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
“I mean, he said that part of a comprehensive immigration policy is physical barriers, and that was not what the Democrats wanted to hear, and he was unapologetic about that.”
Moreno’s comments come as the issue of border security and Trump’s proposed wall continues to take center stage amid the four-week-long partial government shutdown.
Barr, who was viewed as a proponent for more incarceration during his past term as attorney general during the George H.W. Bush administration, was also pressed on that topic during the hearing.
The attorney general nominee told the panel that “1992 was a different time” and that the crime rate has fallen since then.
“He understands that criminal reforms have been implemented for a reason. There were reasons why we’ve taken a second look at the sentencing guidelines, and the sentencing requirements for certain narcotics offenses,” Moreno said. “I think he acknowledged that things have changed and that he will roll with that.”
— Julia Manchester
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.