Lawmakers Fiercely Debate Sanctuary Cities
House Judiciary Hearing Erupts in Heated Exchange Over Sanctuary City Immigration Policies
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Key Points
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During the exchange, Lawler berated colleagues, saying they should be 'ashamed' and calling Raskin a 'disgrace,' while Raskin shot back, 'I DO feel that outrage!' and challenged Lawler with 'Do you feel the outrage of Renee Good and Alex Pretti? You don't belong on this committee. You should GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!'
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Lawler cited a January 27 New York Times op-ed he wrote about the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti as part of his argument that sanctuary-city policies fail to protect Americans.
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Jessica Gorman testified about her daughter Sheridan Gorman's murder in Chicago, attributed to an illegal immigrant; the shooter was described as a 25-year-old illegal alien with prior crimes who was released under Chicago's sanctuary-city policies, linking sanctuary policies to the case.
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Coverage noted Lawler's remarks directed at Hochul and Jayapal; TMZ reported he used a crude epithet, calling them 'f**king assholes' for sanctuary-city policies.
A House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on sanctuary city policies turned into a shouting match on June 30 when Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) called Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) a 'disgrace' and told Democrats they should be 'ashamed.' Raskin fired back, screaming, 'I DO feel that outrage!' and then told Lawler, 'You don't belong on this committee. You should GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!' according to NY Post.
The blowup came as angel families — relatives of Americans killed by people in the country illegally — testified before the committee. It was the fourth such hearing on sanctuary cities held by the House Judiciary Committee in 2026, according to RedState.
Mother's Testimony Ignites Lawler's Attack on Democrats
Jessica Gorman took the stand to describe the March 19, 2026 murder of her daughter Sheridan, an 18-year-old freshman at Loyola University Chicago. Sheridan was shot while walking with friends at Toby Prinz Beach. The suspected shooter, Jose Medina, is a 25-year-old Venezuelan national who was in the country illegally, according to CBS News.
Medina had been released at the U.S. border in May 2023. He was arrested again for shoplifting in Chicago in June 2023 but was let go under the city's sanctuary policies, which limit when local police can hold someone for federal immigration agents. Jessica Gorman testified that 'failed border policies and sanctuary city laws sent Sheridan to her grave,' according to RedState.
Lawler and Raskin Trade Personal Insults on the House Floor
Lawler used Sheridan Gorman's story to press Democrats to condemn sanctuary policies. He was interrupted repeatedly by Democratic colleagues. He then accused them of caring more about politics than victims. He called Raskin a 'disgrace' and said Democrats 'should be ashamed,' according to NY Post.
Raskin's counter-punch focused on Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two anti-ICE activists fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis on January 18, 2026. Raskin demanded to know if Lawler felt outrage over those deaths too. Lawler had actually written a January 27 New York Times op-ed about Good and Pretti, calling for a bipartisan fix to a 'broken system,' according to Newsmax.
Lawler's Crude Words for Hochul and Jayapal Go Viral
After the hearing, Lawler directed harsh words at Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and New York Governor Kathy Hochul. TMZ reported he called them 'f**king assholes' for supporting sanctuary city policies. The remark spread quickly online, drawing both praise from conservative supporters and criticism from those who called it a breakdown in decorum.
Jayapal, the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, had dismissed the proceeding as the fourth time the committee had held this same hearing, suggesting it was a political distraction rather than a serious policy effort, according to RedState.
Deep Partisan Divide Leaves Little Hope for Policy Change
Democrats argued the hearings exploit tragedy to score political points. They said Republicans ignore victims who do not fit the 'illegal immigrant crime' narrative, pointing to Good and Pretti as examples. Republicans countered that sanctuary policies have a direct and deadly cost, using Medina's two prior releases as proof, according to Head Topics.
The intensity of the fight is expected to fuel GOP campaign ads ahead of the 2026 midterms. House Republicans are also reportedly drafting legislation that would cut federal law enforcement grants to cities that refuse to honor ICE detainers for violent or repeat offenders. The bill is informally being called the Sheridan Gorman Act. No vote has been scheduled yet.
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