Keith Self’s Shocking Claim: All Undocumented Are Criminals

Opinion | By R.J. Morales, TX3DNew

Over the past week, Rep. Keith Self has doubled down on rhetoric that crosses a line—from policy debate to outright dehumanization.

“Illegally entering our country is breaking the law and, by definition, makes one a criminal. Criminals deserve to be deported, not rewarded,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Then, just days later: “No illegal alien has a clean record — they’re called ILLEGAL aliens for a reason.”

These aren’t the words of a fringe commentator. This is a sitting U.S. Congressman representing TX03—a place full of immigrants, veterans, pastors, business owners, and working families. Not everyone came here the same way, but they’re here, contributing to this community.

So let’s take a moment—not as Democrats or Republicans, but as neighbors in TX-03—to ask: What exactly is being said here?

Because this isn’t just about enforcing laws. It’s about stripping dignity from millions of people with one sweeping label: “criminal.”

And it’s misleading.

Yes, unauthorized entry can be charged as a misdemeanor under U.S. law (8 U.S. Code §1325(a)), but in practice, it’s often treated as a civil violation. And overstaying a visa—which accounts for nearly 40% of undocumented immigration—is a civil infraction, not a crime at all.

Let’s be clear: no one is defending violent criminals, traffickers, or predators. Everyone—immigrant or not—wants serious offenses prosecuted. But there’s a world of difference between enforcing immigration law and branding every undocumented person as a threat.

Think about someone who came here legally on a visa—or was brought as a child—grew up, went to school, pays taxes, and is trying to adjust their status. That person could be your coworker, your neighbor, your friend. But to Rep. Self, they’re just a “criminal.” No nuance. No distinction.

And that’s the problem. He’s painting with a brush far too broad.

But let’s be honest—this isn’t really about legal definitions. It’s about political branding. Rep. Self claims this is what “we” voted for. But did we?

He posts these declarations on X, not on his official Facebook page, where most constituents follow him. Why? Because he knows how it sounds when said out loud in a town hall in McKinney, Allen, Princeton, or Plano.

Talk to voters in TX-03, and you’ll hear a common theme: secure the border, yes—but do it fairly. Many supported Trump when he promised to deport criminals, not families. That distinction earned him gains with Latino voters in 2020 and 2024. So if Rep. Self now insists that every undocumented immigrant is a criminal, why wasn’t that distinction made clear during the campaign?

Poll after poll shows most Americans—including Republicans—support a path to legal status for people who work, pay taxes, and follow the law. Even in Texas, support for mass deportations is limited when it means tearing families apart or hurting small businesses.

And here in TX-03, the political winds are shifting. In McKinney’s recent mayoral and council runoffs, Rep. Self’s endorsements didn’t carry the day. Voters chose candidates with broader appeal and steadier leadership. That tells us something: maybe this district isn’t as MAGA-red as he assumes. Maybe we’re more independent. More pragmatic. More decent.

And maybe it’s time we acted like it.

No one’s saying we shouldn’t enforce immigration law. But enforcement doesn’t require erasing people’s humanity. When a sitting Congressman declares that every undocumented immigrant has a criminal record, he’s not just making a legal argument—he’s giving people permission to hate. For some of his followers, that’s not abstract. That’s a green light.

This isn’t a call to ignore the law. It’s a call for decency and common sense. If our Congressman can’t—or won’t—differentiate between a trafficker and a teenager brought here at five, we have to ask: Who is he really representing?

Because when we treat everyone as criminals, we don’t protect our communities—we poison them with suspicion.

If you’ve spent any time in TX-03, you’ve likely crossed paths with the very people Rep. Self is condemning. They’ve built homes in Frisco, cleaned churches in Allen, run food trucks in Plano, and served meals in McKinney. Many have worked hard to build honest lives here—but in Rep. Self’s eyes, they’ll never be “clean” enough.

So here’s the real question: Is that who we are? Is that what the voters of TX-03 signed up for?

Because if we don’t say otherwise, he’ll keep speaking for all of us.