Sanctuary City Hearing Erupts in Conflict
A heated hearing regarding sanctuary city policies turned into a shouting match on Tuesday between Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.). The two lawmakers accused one another of being callous toward the deaths of Americans killed by undocumented immigrants and, contrastingly, by federal agents.
During a session of the House Judiciary Committee, Lawler criticized some colleagues for their lack of concern over the murders of Laken Riley and Sheridan Gorman, two women allegedly killed by illegal immigrants in different incidents. He highlighted their apparent outrage concerning the deaths of anti-ICE activists, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were shot by federal agents in Minnesota earlier this year amid claims of obstructing law enforcement.
Lawler stated, “While some colleagues may not want to hear it, you should feel the same anger for Sheridan Gorman and Laken Riley as you do for Renee Good and Alex Preti, along with all the Angel families in this country.” It was a passionate plea that seemed to emphasize the human cost of the ongoing debates surrounding immigration policies.
In response, Raskin challenged Lawler’s perspective, dismissively exclaiming, “I feel that anger, and you don’t.” He accused Lawler of hypocrisy, questioning his support for sanctuary jurisdictions. Lawler retorted that Raskin should be ashamed of himself for his stance.
Raskin then pressed Lawler, “Do you feel the anger for Lenny Goode and Alex Preti? You don’t belong on this committee. Get out of here!” The confrontation was palpable, reflecting deep divisions on immigration issues.
Lawler mentioned an op-ed he wrote for the New York Times discussing the deaths of Good and Pretti, describing those tragic events as preventable. He suggested a reconsideration of current law enforcement tactics, stating that “officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection are conducting enforcement operations in American communities.” He stressed that a review might be necessary.
On the other hand, Raskin remains a staunch advocate for policies that protect undocumented immigrants, including those with criminal records. He defends sanctuary policies vehemently, arguing that forcing local police to implement federal immigration laws is unconstitutional.
