NBA legend Charles Barkley isn’t backing down from his views on immigration enforcement, taking aim at Democratic policies while defending ICE and calling for stricter voter identification requirements.
The outspoken basketball Hall of Famer delivered his latest political remarks during a conversation with former Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl, making clear that his longtime support for Democrats doesn’t mean he agrees with the party on everything.
Barkley, who identifies as an independent despite voting Democratic throughout his life, argued that America needs secure borders and a functioning immigration enforcement system.
He also pushed back against critics who have called for eliminating Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“My thing is, number one, we can’t have open borders, okay? But ICE, I don’t talk bad about ICE because I think they are very useful, very useful,” Barkley said in a clip shared by Pearl.
The former NBA superstar argued that immigration authorities should distinguish between immigrants who follow the law and those who commit crimes.
“Cause we should be able to differentiate the good immigrants to the bad immigrants. I don’t even think it’s that hard. Like, ‘Wait a minute, if you’re committing crimes, you can’t be here.’ Like, people who are crooks gotta go. That is so simple. But both parties have weaponized immigration.”
”We can’t have open borders… People who are crooks gotta go!” -Charles Barkley https://t.co/bm1EaIynzU
— Bruce Pearl (@coachbrucepearl) October 16, 2026
Barkley then shifted his attention to another contentious political issue, voter identification requirements.
The basketball legend expressed support for requiring voters to prove their identity before casting ballots, arguing that Democrats have mishandled the issue.
“You should need ID to vote,” Barkley said.
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“No, we need to know who you are if you can vote. But the Democrats have failed in that aspect. And like I say, I’m not gonna talk bad about ICE, but we need to do a better job. Okay, if you a crook, you gotta go.”
His comments come amid an ongoing national debate over immigration enforcement, border security and election laws.
Republicans have generally supported stricter identification requirements and expanded immigration enforcement, while Democrats have raised concerns about access to voting and the treatment of immigrants.
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Barkley’s remarks are particularly notable because he has frequently criticized President Donald Trump and has not identified himself as a Republican.
But this wasn’t the first time the former Philadelphia 76ers star challenged positions associated with the Democratic Party’s progressive wing.
During a recent appearance on The Chris Cuomo Project, Barkley rejected calls to abolish ICE, eliminate prisons or defund police departments.
“Some of these people out here talking about no ICE, no prison, using words like socialism,” Barkley said.
“Like, no, I don’t believe in that. Wait, wait, no cops? I think that’s some of the stupidest sh*t I’ve ever heard.”
Despite defending the agency’s role, Barkley also argued that immigration officials must improve their performance.
He said “ICE has to do a much better job” while emphasizing that “we need immigrants in this country.”
Barkley has also criticized Trump, accusing the president of making racists feel “confident and comfortable.”
His criticism hasn’t been limited to Republicans.
The longtime NBA analyst previously argued that former Vice President Kamala Harris “can’t be president” and urged Democrats to find “a real candidate, or we’re going to lose again.”
The latest conversation with Pearl underscored Barkley’s willingness to challenge both political parties, particularly on immigration enforcement and election security.
And while Barkley remains critical of Trump, his message on criminal immigration enforcement was unmistakable.
People who commit crimes, he argued, should face consequences regardless of which political party controls Washington.
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[ H/T Trending Politics ]
