Swalwell Shares Illegal Immigrant Sob Story, Leaves Out Critical Detail

Democratic California Rep. Eric Swalwell tried to upend Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s testimony with a deportation sob story, but left out the detail that the illegal immigrant had a criminal history.

Swalwell shared the story of Miguel Lopez, 47, who was deported to his home country of Mexico in June, during a House Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday. Lopez received a deportation order in 2008, which a judge later blocked, according to CBS News.

In 2016, the Department of Homeland Security again tried to pursue a deportation order that Lopez has fought ever since, the outlet reported.

“He does not have a job, he has not been able to provide, and he said his Spanish isn’t even that great because he hasn’t been there for 30 years, and it’s hard for him to communicate. Do you see the pain of families like Miguel Lopez, someone who did not commit a violent crime, but has been separated from his family and is not providing, is not working, do you see that pain?” Swalwell asked Noem.

Noem then asked if Lopez had a “criminal record.”

Swalwell paused before responding: “In 1995, he pled to a lesser nonviolent charge. But do you see the pain …”

Miguel was arrested in 1998 for DUI and was convicted of a lesser charge, according to CBS News.

Additionally, on his first attempt to cross the border illegally in 1996, Lopez lied to border agents by claiming to be an American citizen before he was ultimately removed to Mexico, CBS News reported. He then tried again and made it into the country on his second attempt.

Lopez, who is married to a U.S. citizen and has two children who are also U.S. citizens, was nabbed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during an immigration hearing in May, according to CBS News.

.@RepSwalwell beclowns himself by telling a sob story of a deported illegal alien who he admits has a criminal record.@Sec_Noem informs him that he had the chance to remain with his family by self-deporting, and returning home with $2,600 per eligible family member. pic.twitter.com/jtYH6X2Luw

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 4, 2026

“I do see the pain, and I wish people would do things correctly. If they’re not in legal status in this country, they can return home, we will pay for them to return home. I hope he got the $2,600 he could’ve gotten,” Noem said in response to Swalwell’s question.

“Do you think that makes up for not being with his family?” the California Democrat asked.

Noem said the self-deportation incentives help “because we have agreements with these countries, where they are helping to facilitate housing and training.”

“It was a nonviolent crime, secretary,” Swalwell said.

Noem went on to add: “But then he gets a chance to come back the right way. Now that he’s waited until he’s been detained and deported, he will never get the chance to come back to the United States. And so I wish that he would’ve made the right decision and decided to go home to help his family and him to be together. They have choices that they can make to be together, and we’re hopeful that they will continue to do that.”