Monday was not at all a “quiet day” on ABC News’ “The View” — and here’s why it matters.

Co-hosts Sunny Hostin (pictured above left) and Meghan McCain (above right) argued over one another in a tense exchange over whether President Donald Trump’s and other Republicans’ rhetoric about the latest Central American migrant “caravan” headed toward the U.S. does “tell the truth” about illegal immigration.

“We’re also a nation of laws and borders, which is part of my problem with the way some of this is being spun,” McCain said of the caravan controversy. “This is a nation of immigrants, obviously through proper legal channels.”

“So when you see these images — this is a conservative fever dream and a gift to the midterm elections, because this is exactly what conservatives think people on the Left want to have happen into this country,” McCain added. “What a lot of people on the Left are saying — no one on this table — is that you want open borders and no consequences.”

Hostin protested, saying, “I wish that then the people on the Right would tell the truth about what’s really happening in immigration.”

McCain immediately interrupted, demanding, “Did you just accuse me of not telling the truth?”

Hostin swiftly replied, “No, No. I said ‘people on the Right.'”

“I’m on the Right,” McCain fired back.

Hostin insisted, “But I’m not talking about you personally.”

Liberal co-host Joy Behar chimed in, saying to McCain, “You’re not on the extreme Right. You’re not.”

Who do you think would win the Presidency?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from LifeZette, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

But McCain insisted, “I’m more extreme on this issue than I think people realize. I come from a border state.”

An estimated 5,000 migrants from Central American countries are stopped at Mexico’s border with Guatemala, hoping ultimately to make it to the U.S., according to Fox News.

Trump took to Twitter Monday to dub the march a “National Emergency.”

“Sadly, it looks like Mexico’s Police and Military are unable to stop the Caravan heading to the Southern Border of the United States. Criminals and unknown Middle Easterners are mixed in. I have alerted Border Patrol and Military that this is a National Emergy [sic]. Must change laws!” Trump tweeted.

“Every time you see a Caravan, or people illegally coming, or attempting to come, into our Country illegally, think of and blame the Democrats for not giving us the votes to change our pathetic Immigration Laws! Remember the Midterms! So unfair to those who come in legally,” Trump added.

The president also announced Monday on Twitter that the U.S. “will now begin cutting off, or substantially reducing” foreign aid given to Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador because the countries “were not able to do the job of stopping people from leaving their country and coming illegally to the U.S.”

“The View” co-hosts took particular issue with Trump insistence that “criminals and unknown Middle Easterners are mixed in” with this caravan.

Related: Graham Warns Pelosi Will ‘Welcome’ Caravans if Dems Win Midterms

“Is this straight-up fearmongering? When did he start putting the Middle Easterners in?” co-host Whoopi Goldberg wanted to know.

Behar claimed that Trump “makes up everything. He’ll tell you Osama bin Laden is marching. He lies about everything.”

Conservative co-host Abby Huntsman said she “always” approaches illegal immigration topics from a “humanity first” perspective, adding, “Everyone in this room is an immigrant.”

McCain, however, insisted the U.S. is “a nation of laws and borders.”

She said she identifies with many Americans that were incensed when an illegal immigrant shot and killed Kathryn Steinle on a pier in San Francisco, a sanctuary city that shields illegal immigrants.

Trump catapulted Steinle’s murder to the forefront of national discourse during his 2016 presidential campaign as he pushed immigration enforcement and border security measures, including his signature border wall pledge.

Related: Suspected Illegal Immigrant, Driving Drunk, Crashes Car, Injures Four Kids

Hostin complained that a large percentage of illegal immigrants come from Asia, Sweden and Canada.

“They aren’t on that caravan, and I wish people on the Right pointed that out. It’s always about brown and black people and that’s not the truth,” Hostin insisted.

McCain fired back, “No, it’s not! I’m not bringing race into this at all, number one.”

Watch more from the contentious “The View” segment on the caravan below: