Ana Navarro and Shermichael Singleton clash on live CNN segment as heated immigration debate over Maryland deportation spirals out of control

It was supposed to be a typical roundtable discussion on CNN—until it turned into a full-on verbal brawl that left viewers stunned and producers scrambling to cut to a commercial.

The spark?

A fiery exchange between political commentator Ana Navarro and Black conservative pundit Shermichael Singleton over the controversial deportation case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a migrant wrongly expelled from the U.S.

Things Got Personal Fast During a Debate About Immigration

The argument began while the two were discussing Abrego Garcia’s case.

Singleton passionately defended a firm stance on immigration, saying, “If you come in illegally, you have to leave.

Americans are tired of this.

We don’t have unlimited resources… we have to take care of our own.”

Navarro fired back, pointing out the country’s long, complicated immigration history.

“There’s a hell of a lot of Americans, other than Black people who were brought here as slaves, who came to this country illegally,” she said.

But that’s when everything went sideways.

Singleton misinterpreted her words and took offense, believing she was comparing undocumented migrants to enslaved African Americans.

Misunderstanding Sends the Argument Off the Rails

“They are not the same as Black people who were brought here against our will!” Singleton shouted.

“They decide to walk their way across the border—there’s a big difference!”

Another commentator, Phillips, tried to step in and clarify: “I think you actually misheard what she said.”

Navarro added, “Do you really think I would say something like that after advocating for Black communities my whole life?”

But Singleton wasn’t having it.

“Great. Congratulations. Last time I checked, I’m Black. You’re not, okay,” he said sarcastically.

Navarro held her ground: “That’s right.

I’m Latino and my people are being racially profiled too.

Don’t forget our history either.”

At that point, the back-and-forth became so intense that Phillips had no choice but to cut to a commercial break.

The Story Behind the Case That Sparked the Clash

At the center of the drama is Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old Salvadoran man who had lived in Maryland since he was 16.

He was deported during the Trump administration despite a court order protecting him from removal.

His legal team argued that he would face danger in El Salvador, where violent gangs had already threatened him and his family.

He had built a life in the U.S.—working in construction, getting married to an American citizen, and raising three children.

Trump Doubles Down on the Deportation

Despite a Supreme Court ruling saying the administration must bring Abrego Garcia back, former President Trump has pushed back.

In a recent ABC News interview, Trump was asked if he could simply pick up the phone and ask El Salvador’s president to return Abrego Garcia.

His response? “I could,” followed by, “And if he were the gentleman that you say he is, I would do that.”

Trump insists the man is a suspected MS-13 gang member, pointing to tattoos and vague local police claims from 2019—even though Abrego Garcia was never formally charged.

His attorneys say the accusations are flimsy at best, based on a criminal informant’s claim that he belonged to a gang in New York, a state he’s never even lived in.

Legal Orders Ignored, Family Left in Limbo

Court records show that a U.S. immigration judge in 2019 ordered that Abrego Garcia not be deported, citing a real risk of persecution if he returned.

But that order was disregarded. He was sent to one of El Salvador’s most notorious prisons in March.

A federal judge reaffirmed the ruling in early April, and the Supreme Court followed up by saying the government must take action to bring him back.

Still, the administration has yet to comply.

What’s Next in This Divisive Case?

With emotions running high and legal battles dragging on, the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia has become a flashpoint in the broader immigration debate.

Democrats want him returned to Maryland, where his family still lives. Republicans, especially Trump supporters, argue he should remain in El Salvador.

As tempers flare on TV and in courtrooms, one thing’s clear—this story is far from over.