Democrat Tells GOP to Stop ‘Demonizing’ Illegal Immigrants in Front of Child Victim

Firebrand Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., claimed a House subcommittee hearing was “demonizing hard-working immigrants” by drawing attention to a tragedy caused by an illegal immigrant with a commercial driver’s license, or CDL for short.

On Wednesday, the House Homeland Security Committee’s subcommittee on oversight, investigations, and accountability held a hearing that examined the effects of illegal immigrants in the commercial truck driving industry. The hearing drew attention to the story of 5-year-old Dalilah Coleman, who was in attendance. Dalilah was almost killed by an 18-wheeler driven by an illegal immigrant in California.

Thanedar, the ranking member on the committee, tried to shift the focus of the hearing away from Dalilah and CDLs to issues such as the military escalations with Iran and Jeffrey Epstein.

“This weekend, a convicted felon with bone spurs illegally attacked Iran,” Thanedar said during his opening remarks. “This subcommittee is now holding another hearing on demonizing hard-working immigrants.” 

“Republicans are also taking flights on luxury private jets instead,” he added. 

Thanedar also argued that this issue should be discussed by the committee overseeing the Department of Transportation instead.

The subcommittee’s hearing on illegal immigrants obtaining CDLs follows President Donald Trump’s call during the State of the Union for Congress to push legislation that prevents illegal aliens from obtaining commercial driver’s licenses.

During his address, the president said that those who do not “speak English and cannot read even the most basic road signs as to direction, speed, danger, or location” should not be operating commercial trucks.

Chairman Josh Brecheen, R-Okla., believes these vehicles, in the wrong hands, can be turned into weapons.

“I want to say how excited I am that the Trump administration is taking this issue very seriously,” Brecheen added. “You can weaponize an 80,000-pound rig. There’s a heightened safety element that needs to be adhered to.” 

Brecheen then opened the hearing to expert testimonies from Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety Tim Tipton, St. Lucie County, Florida, Sheriff Richard R. Del Toro Jr., and Attorney for Public Citizen Litigation Group Wendy Liu, who have firsthand experience with illegal immigrant truck drivers.

“I think it’s ridiculous to say that someone who can’t read and speak English can understand the rules of the road,” Tipton said. “When people like Dalilah are struck by an illegal immigrant operating a motor vehicle, it isn’t an accident. That is people intentionally getting in a vehicle who don’t understand how to operate it and are dangerous. It’s dangerous. It’s avoidable.”

Tipton added that last September, the Ohio Highway Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted a joint operation where 79 commercial truck drivers were taken into custody over immigration violations.

“Since then, almost 50% of OHP encounters with commercial truck operators have resulted in arrests for immigration violations,” Tipton mentioned. 

Tipton also called on Congress to shut down driving schools that certify those who “can’t read English and don’t know the rules of the road.”

Brecheen told The Daily Signal after the hearing that he thinks “it’s incredible that [Democrats] are fighting for illegals, and all the harm that they cause.”

“You got to wonder, who are they really representing?” he added.

Heritage Action, which has supported Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., and Rep. Erin Houchin’s, R-Ind., legislative efforts to remove illegal immigrants and non-English speakers from the trucking industry, echoed the chairman’s remarks.

“Every CDL that is given to an illegal alien makes our roads and highways more dangerous for Americans. I am glad that Chairman Brecheen highlighted the threats posed by this concerning practice that Congress should end immediately,” Government Relations Director of Heritage Action Daniel West told The Daily Signal.

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