WASHINGTON, Jan 31:Any “illegal aliens” who attend today’s State of the Union address as guests of Democrats should be arrested and deported, a Republican congressman from Arizona said.
More than 20 Democratic lawmakers have invited “Dreamers,” young immigrants who were brought to the US as children and are living here illegally, to President Donald Trump’s first State of the Union address.
Congress has been unable to come up with a legislative solution for their legal status, which was at the centre of the recent government shutdown.
“Of all the places where the rule of law needs to be enforced, it should be in the hallowed halls of Congress,” Rep. Paul Gosar tweeted. “Any illegal aliens attempting to go through security, under any pretext of invitation or otherwise, should be arrested and deported.”
A spokeswoman for Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan said, “The speaker clearly does not agree.” The US Capitol Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Among the high-profile Democrats who have invited Dreamers to the speech are House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and potential 2020 presidential candidates New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and California Senator Kamala Harris.
Trump has announced plans to end Obama-era protections for such immigrants. He now says he wants to grant them a path to citizenship, but Congress has not been able to agree to a deal.
Dreamers are set to lose protection from deportation in March.
Gosar’s suggestion drew a quick rejoinder from Senator Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who tweeted back: “This is why we can’t have nice things…” (AGENCIES)
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