The White House claims that it was not trying to retaliate against Democrats with a plan to send migrants to sanctuary cities, but a former DHS official confirms that the plan was intended to hurt Speaker of the House Pelosi.

To See President Biden's 5 Best Jokes At The White House Correspondents Dinner visit The Daily.

Jacob Soboroff of NBC News reported, “I talked to a former DHS official who said very clearly that this was a political move. That, quote, I’m paraphrasing why let these migrants hang out in Yuma or Phoenix obviously in a red state, Arizona when you can put them in San Francisco and another source told me that this was specifically designed to hurt in some way Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. So, of course, the White House is going to say, this was not about politics. But as we’ve seen, much of their immigration plans and proposals very much is.”

Video:

Pelosi’s office blasted the plan, “The extent of this administration’s cynicism and cruelty cannot be overstated,” said Pelosi spokeswoman Ashley Etienne. “Using human beings — including little children — as pawns in their warped game to perpetuate fear and demonize immigrants is despicable.”

Trump Thinks That Immigration Is The Key To His Reelection

The “crisis” on the border narrative is all part of Trump’s 2020 plan. The president is trying to use immigration to scare his voters and get them out to vote in 2020, but the White House has already been told by Republican strategists who examined the 2018 midterm that this strategy backfired on Republicans and cost them seats in the House.

Trump isn’t listening to experts in his own party and voters around the country. Trump thinks that cruelty gives him political leverage over Democrats. The White House abandoned their plan to dump migrants in sanctuary cities after they were twice told that it was illegal, but as the former DHS official pointed out the White House’s efforts are all about 2020 politics.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association