Staff Reports
The House Democrats on the Judiciary Committee had a uniform reply to Republicans who pointed out the border crisis under President Biden’s leadership, they charged the GOP of racism. The Chairman, Jim Jordan (R-OH) presented the data of illegal immigrants encountered, those who evaded capture, and the quantity of drugs seized, showing that much more was able to enter the U.S. In response, Ranking Member Jerry Nadler (D-NY) stated that the hearing was a diversion and was only intended to show the racist nature of Republicans. He further stated that the GOP’s focus on the border was preferable to their normal fixation on conspiracy theories and the FBI.
.@RepJerryNadler claimed the border crisis hearing will expose the "racist tendencies of the extreme MAGA Republican wing of the party" because the GOP wants the border to be secured.
Adds it "almost makes me miss the usual obsession with conspiracy theories and the FBI." pic.twitter.com/sUqWsNL69o
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) February 1, 2023
The Democratic witness, El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego (D), testified that despite the significant increase in illegal immigrants in September and December, the border was not open in his county. He maintained that there was no migrant invasion in his area and that undocumented immigrants were not causing chaos or crimes against citizens. Samaniego further linked the El Paso mass shooting in 2019, which resulted in the death of 23 people in a predominantly Latino city, to racist language. The shooter’s manifesto referenced an “Hispanic invasion” as one of the motives for the attack, however, the shooter held these racist views prior to Donald Trump becoming President and was not influenced by him.
El Paso County Judge Samaniego (D): "There is no open border in El Paso…There is no invasion of migrants in our community. Nor are there hordes of undocumented immigrants committing crimes against citizens or causing havoc in our community," saying the border is open is racist. pic.twitter.com/msU4LJuxDC
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) February 1, 2023
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) accused Republicans of “demonizing migrant families and asylum seekers,” which he argued had contributed to an increase in hate and violence directed at immigrants in the U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, a well-known figure from Guam, went on to say that the “MAGA Republican plan” would bar refuge for everyone, even individuals escaping totalitarian communist regimes and young children traveling alone across borders to avoid gang violence.
.@RepAdamSchiff: Many Republicans seem intent on demonizing migrant families and asylum seekers, portraying them as fentanyl traffickers and violent criminals…These terrible stereotypes…increase the level of hate and violence directed at immigrants here at home. pic.twitter.com/wKbEt8RU8v
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) February 1, 2023
Overall, House Democrats on the Judiciary Committee were unified in their response to Republicans highlighting the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border under President Joe Biden’s leadership: they accused the GOP of racism and argued that their focus on the border was a distraction from more important issues. They also suggested that such rhetoric had contributed to an increase in hate and violence directed at immigrants in the U.S., as well as the mass shooting in El Paso in 2019. Finally, they warned that the “MAGA Republican plan” would shut down asylum to many vulnerable people who are seeking refuge in the U.S.
The preceding article is a summary of an article that originally appeared on Townhall
