A contentious House Judiciary Committee hearing on sanctuary city policies devolved into a heated exchange Tuesday between Reps. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and Jamie Raskin, D-Md. The two lawmakers accused each other of lacking empathy regarding the deaths of individuals allegedly killed by undocumented immigrants and anti-ICE protesters killed by federal agents.
Lawler criticized some colleagues, suggesting they were apathetic to the deaths of Laken Riley and Sheridan Gorman, women allegedly killed by undocumented immigrants. He contrasted this with their expressed outrage over the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two anti-ICE protesters who were shot and killed by federal agents in Minnesota earlier this year while allegedly interfering with law enforcement operations.
"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 stated.
Raskin responded by shouting, "I do feel that outrage. You do not."
Lawler then retorted, "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." He also noted that he had written an op-ed for The New York Times on January 27 concerning the deaths of Good and Pretti, stating, "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."
Raskin questioned Lawler's outrage and told him, "You don't belong on this committee. You should get the hell out of here!"
Raskin has been a proponent of sanctuary policies, which limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. He has defended these policies by emphasizing the unconstitutionality of compelling local police to enforce federal immigration law.