CNN reports:
Rep. Paul Gosar said he requested that US Capitol Police arrest undocumented immigrants attending President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday. The Arizona Republican, who is known as an immigration hardliner, tweeted his request that police “consider checking identification of all attending the State of the Union address and arresting any illegal aliens in attendance.” He added they should “arrest those using fraudulent social security numbers and identification to pass through security.”
In a statement from Gosar’s office, he added he also contacted Attorney General Jeff Sessions about his request. “Of all the places where the Rule of Law needs to be enforced, it should be in the hallowed halls of Congress,” he said in a statement. “Any illegal aliens attempting to go through security, under any pretext of invitation or otherwise, should be arrested and deported.”
Politico reports:
The statement from Gosar prompted a quick and bipartisan rebuke. AshLee Strong, a spokeswoman for House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), said he “clearly does not agree” with Gosar’s suggestion. Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who is bringing a Chicago-area Dreamer as a guest to Tuesday night’s speech, wondered online “how many Republican members of the House and Senate will condemn this attempt to punish Dreamers who were brought to this country as kids?”
Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), said in an interview Dreamers remain protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which Trump ended last year with a sixth-month delay so that Congress could codify protections for them into law. She recommended that Gosar “read the law” and said Democrats have been insistent on tying Dreamers’ fate to the appropriations process “because we have questions about people like Gosar understanding the law.”
You may recall Gosar fleeing CNN’s cameras last October after being confronted for his claim that George Soros planned the Nazi rally in Charlottesville.
Today, Congressman Paul Gosar contacted the U.S. Capitol Police, as well as Attorney General Jeff Sessions, asking they consider checking identification of all attending the State of the Union address and arresting any illegal aliens in attendance.
— Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (@RepGosar) January 30, 2018
Additionally, Congressman Gosar asked that they arrest those using fraudulent social security numbers and identification to pass through security.
— Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (@RepGosar) January 30, 2018
“Of all the places where the Rule of Law needs to be enforced, it should be in the hallowed halls of Congress. Any illegal aliens attempting to go through security, under any pretext of invitation or otherwise, should be arrested and deported,” said Congressman Gosar.
— Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (@RepGosar) January 30, 2018
This is why we can’t have nice things… https://t.co/2vLHDFvFgq
— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) January 30, 2018
This is why you got forced out of office. https://t.co/XWNdJUoEhC
— Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (@RepGosar) January 30, 2018
I feel better knowing that all seven of Gosar’s own siblings think he’s a low-life.https://t.co/Kml9d29Ny6 https://t.co/HZ7QuqPjhX
— Jesse Lehrich (@JesseLehrich) January 30, 2018
Ryan spox @AshLeeStrong on Gosar call for Capitol Police to be on look out for Dreamers at SOTU: “The speaker clearly does not agree.” per @FoxReports
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 30, 2018
.@RepGosar, #Dreamers are not a threat; they represent the best of our country, and the majority of Americans and Congress stand behind them. Stop planting seeds of division and fear and instead get to work on finding a solution. #SOTU #HeretoStay
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 30, 2018
It is shameful & wrong that Rep. Gosar believes that #DREAMers invited by Members to #SOTU should be detained at the doors to the Capitol – this temple to liberty and common dreams. This is not who we are. https://t.co/qT69HXQj7Z
— Steny Hoyer (@WhipHoyer) January 30, 2018