A group of Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill reacted unfavorably in the hours after the State of the Union address, specifically speaking out against the part in President Joe Biden’s speech where he referred to illegal immigrants as “illegals” and the Venezuelan illegal immigrant who murdered a nursing student in Georgia in Feb. as an “illegal.”
The president referred to “illegals” in the country — a signature issue for the reelection campaign of former President Donald Trump — after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) spoke out of turn and interrupted him, asking him to give a word about Laken Riley, the 22-year-old student kidnapped on the University of Georgia campus and murdered by an illegal immigrant.
Laken Riley was a beautiful, faith-filled young woman who should be with us today.
Last night, President Biden said "Lincoln Riley" before asking, "How many thousands of people are being killed by illegals?"
This was a completely insensitive moment. Lacking in compassion
She… pic.twitter.com/OgYF2EuiMb
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) March 8, 2024
“Lincoln Riley!” Biden answered. “An innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. That’s right. But how many of the thousands of people being killed by illegals? To her parents, I say, my heart goes out to you having lost children myself. I understand.”
In addition to using a term that Democrats in politics and the media have typically avoided using for decades, that was an odd response from the president because his answer was to point out that it is not only Riley, but thousands of people who are “being killed by illegals.”
That seems like the talking point Trump would make because it points out the severity of the problem. Instead, Biden gave a potential preview of how well he might do in a debate against Trump later this year.
Joe Biden was asked today about his comment on “illegals.”
Referencing Laken Riley’s k*ller he says “well… uh… technically he’s not supposed to be here…”
Well who let him in?! Biden signed 94 executive actions which purposely weakened our border! pic.twitter.com/xRBGUrhrtf
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 8, 2024
Biden then made the politically risky claim that the U.S. should grant amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants living in the United States and said he needs Republicans to help him pass a Democrat-sponsored bill to secure the border. But many Democrats objected that he used the term “illegals.”
“Let me be clear: No human being is illegal,” Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) posted on X, formerly Twitter, after the speech.
Let me be clear: No human being is illegal.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 8, 2024
“Just like we should not be implementing Republican policy, we should not be repeating Republican rhetoric,” Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) said.
No human being is illegal.
Just like we should not be implementing Republican policy, we should not be repeating Republican rhetoric.
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) March 8, 2024
