On 12/10/2024, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, is pushing back on the theme of Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that criticized the incoming Trump Administration’s threat to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.

“I have to say, I’m kind of amazed that we’re holding this hearing,” he said when he was recognized to speak. “To me, it’s remarkable that the idea of enforcing our laws, protecting our border, securing our streets from criminals, it’s amazing that that’s controversial at all, and it says something a lot about the other side of the dais that we’re having this hearing today.”

Democrats at the hearing, including Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, were especially critical of President-elect Trump’s plans to use the military to help carry out mass deportations.

One of the witnesses called by Senate Democrats to testify said that mass deportations could destroy the U.S. economy and tear society apart. Immigration attorney Aaron Reichlin-Melnick testified that the vast majority of undocumented immigrants want to contribute to American society.

“We want a path to citizenship…for people who pass a background check, who pay a fine, and that will level the playing field,” he said.

Hawley interrupted Reichlin-Melnick, calling it “amnesty.”

“You just said there’s millions of people, 13 million people, right!” Hawley said. “Thirteen million people you want to dump into the labor force.”

Reichlin-Melnick replied, “They are already in the labor force,” to which Hawley said, “Illegally they’re here, taking jobs from American citizens.”

That prompted Reichlin-Melnick to say, “Yes! So let’s make it legal and fix this!” Then Hawley exclaimed, “Oh, perfect! So, here’s your plan!”

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Hawley blasts Dem immigration lawyer at mass deportation hearing: amnesty 13M taking jobs from American