“You’ll have to go through me and break my bones first. #ProtectDREAMers.”
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) threatened to fight back against anyone who attempted to follow Rep. Paul Gosar’s (R-Ariz.) suggestion of arresting and deporting illegal immigrants invited to attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday.
“No one threatens my guest,” Connolly warned, via Twitter. “You’ll have to go through me and break my bones first. #ProtectDREAMers.”
No one threatens my guest. You’ll have to go through me and break my bones first. #ProtectDREAMers https://t.co/ndlXvx4CCp https://t.co/55iFt7DwR4
— Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) January 30,2018
In a series of tweets published a few hours ahead of the address, Gosar said he asked U. S. Capitol Police and Attorney General Jeff Sessions to consider arresting and deporting illegal immigrants who might attend the event.
He also requested that any attendees found using fraudulent Social Security numbers and identification be arrested.
“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,” Gosar tweeted.
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
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle publicly criticized Gosar for his remarks.
This is outrageous: @HouseGOP Rep. Paul Gosar says he has asked Capitol Police and AG Sessions to arrest and deport #DREAMers at #SOTU tonight. America is better than this. RT if you agree. #DreamActNow pic.twitter.com/q7GdrgZvet
— Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) January 30,2018
What’s wrong with you? https://t.co/PmZ8aMQGyN
— Rep. Joe Crowley (@repjoecrowley) January 30,2018
This is why we can’t have nice things… https://t.co/2vLHDFvFgq
— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) January 30,2018
More than two dozen lawmakers, including Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), will be bringing recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to the State of the Union as guests.
