Former NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley used a CBS March Madness segment featuring UConn star Alex Karaban to voice concerns about the treatment of legal immigrants.
Karaban’s family fled Ukraine and Belarus in the 1990s, arriving in Massachusetts in 1996 and 2001 respectively. Barkley praised their story as an example of the contributions immigrants make to America.
"I love that kid and his family," Barkley said. "But the way some of these other immigrants are getting treated in our country right now is a travesty and a disgrace."
He emphasized the distinction between legal immigrants and criminals, stating that the current treatment of legal immigrants is "unfortunate and unfair."
Barkley did not cite specific examples of legal immigrants being mistreated. His comments came amid ongoing criticism of U.S. immigration enforcement.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called ICE a "rogue agency" and criticized its actions as "reckless" and harmful to public safety.
The remarks sparked debate over how legal immigrants are treated in the United States.