A tense hearing on sanctuary city policies devolved Tuesday into a shouting match between Reps. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and Jamie Raskin, D-Md., who accused each other of not caring about the deaths of Americans at the hands of illegal immigrants or anti-ICE protesters killed by federal agents.
During a House Judiciary Committee hearing on sanctuary policies, Lawler scolded some of his colleagues, accusing them of apathy regarding the deaths of Laken Riley and Sheridan Gorman—two women allegedly killed by illegal immigrants in separate incidents.
However, he noted their voicing of outrage over the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two anti-ICE agitators who were shot and killed by federal agents while allegedly interfering in law enforcement operations in Minnesota earlier this year.
“So while some of my colleagues may not want to hear the truth, the same outrage you feel about Renee Good and Alex Pretti, you should feel about Sheridan Gorman and Laken Riley and every Angel family in this country,” Lawler said.
“I do feel that outrage. You do not,” Raskin shouted in response.
“You do not, because if you did, you would not support sanctuary jurisdictions. You should be ashamed of yourself. You should be ashamed of yourself, Jamie. You’re a disgrace,” Lawler replied.
RASKIN ACTS CLUELESS WHEN PRESSED ON DEMOCRATS’ ANTI-TRUMP RHETORIC FOLLOWING WHCD SHOOTING
“Do you feel the outrage of Renee Good and Alex Pretti?” Raskin asked. “You don’t belong on this committee. You should get the hell out of here!”
Lawler noted that he wrote a Jan. 27 New York Times op-ed about Good and Pretti’s deaths.
“The deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis this month were tragic and preventable. No matter where you stand on immigration enforcement, the shootings show that what the country has been doing is not working,” Lawler wrote in the piece.
“Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection are conducting forceful operations in American communities,” he added. “They should reassess their current tactics.”
Raskin has voiced strong support for sanctuary policies, which shield illegal aliens—even those arrested and convicted of crimes—from federal immigration authorities. He has frequently defended sanctuary policies against federal overreach, emphasizing that compelling local police to enforce federal immigration law is unconstitutional.
