Former California Guv Arnold Schwarzenegger, an immigrant himself, wants newcomers to 'behave like a guest' in US

Arnold Schwarzenegger stirred controversy during a recent appearance on The View, where he told immigrants to “behave like a guest” in America. The comment, made while promoting Season 2 of his Netflix series FUBAR, quickly went viral and drew mixed reactions from the show’s hosts and viewers.

The Austrian-born actor and former California governor reflected on his own immigration journey, calling it “beautiful” and emphasizing the value of legal immigration. “When you come to America, you’re a guest,” he said. “And you have to behave like a guest.”

Los Angeles and several other cities in the United States saw huge anti-Trump protests recently following raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Violence flared up after the agency arrested few indiviuals. Later Trump sent National Guards as well as Marines to help ICE conduct more raids.



Meanwhile while talking to The View, Schwarzenegger likened immigrants to houseguests who should “keep things clean” and “make their bed.” He encouraged newcomers to contribute to their communities through volunteer work—even if unpaid—underscoring a sense of civic responsibility.

The comments sparked immediate pushback. Whoopi Goldberg reminded Schwarzenegger that “90 percent of the people who come here are trying to do the right thing,” while Sunny Hostin highlighted that immigrants are statistically less likely to commit crimes than U.S.-born citizens.


Pressed about how he would handle California’s immigration protests and ongoing challenges, Schwarzenegger urged collaboration among local, state, and federal authorities. He also criticized both political parties for failing to pass meaningful immigration reform, calling politicians from both sides “party hacks.” “If they really want to be public servants, they need to solve this issue,” he said.

Though the discussion turned tense, it illuminated the complexity of the immigration debate in the U.S. Schwarzenegger’s remarks, whether applauded or criticized, reignited a conversation that continues to divide opinion—and demonstrated that even years out of public office, he remains a provocative voice in American discourse.