Democratic debate: Julian Castro and Beto O'Rourke spar in a fiery moment over border crossings

Castro told O’Rourke, 'If you did your homework on this issue' in regards to Beto comments about his understanding of border crossings.

Published: June 26, 2019, 8:14 p.m. MDT

From left, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, and former Maryland Rep. John Delaney pose for a photo on stage before the start of a Democratic primary debate hosted by NBC News at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Miami. Brynn Anderson, AP

SALT LAKE CITY — Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro and former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke briefly sparred during the Democratic primary debates that had Twitter riled up.

Bill de Blasio again goes after Beto with an interruption, this time on immigration. Julián Castro cuts in to call for the elimination of Section 1325, which criminalizes crossing the border. pic.twitter.com/HTXR2dnjHB
— Axios (@axios) June 27, 2019

Castro said O’Rourke supports section 1325 of the Immigration Act, which would criminalize border crossings. Castro said he would push to repeal this idea.

Castro told O’Rourke, “If you did your homework on this issue” in regards to O'Rourke’s talk about his understanding of border crossings.

"I just think it is a mistake," Castro said.

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Twitter reacted to the exchange.

Castro to #Beto: “If you did your homework….” pic.twitter.com/UBvMporFKs
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) June 27, 2019

.@JulianCastro is winning this debate. Scored a hit with each answer so far. #demdebate
— Tyler Norris (@TXTylerNorris) June 27, 2019

Castro is really going after Beto’s 3%.
— Ramesh Ponnuru (@RameshPonnuru) June 27, 2019

.@JulianCastro interrupts @BetoORourke to attack him on immigration, as if O’Rourke were the problem instead of, umm, DONALD TRUMP. Does Julian think Trump is Lord Voldemort, whose name he cannot speak???
— Paul Begala (@PaulBegala) June 27, 2019

Beto has been a target tonight - now Castro launching a sustained attack on immigration
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) June 27, 2019

Castro going after Beto like pic.twitter.com/X7m4yodUxA
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) June 27, 2019

Some tension between Julián Castro and Beto O’Rourke on immigration.

Castro calls “Beto” out by name for not supporting his plan to decriminalize migration.
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) June 27, 2019

Castro wants the bilingual smoke with Beto 👀 #DemDebate
— Brandon Pope TV (@BpopeTV) June 27, 2019

Bad blood between Castro and Beto in the Texas delegation?
— Josh Kraushaar (@JoshKraushaar) June 27, 2019

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