Staff Reports
President Joe Biden is stirring up trouble within his own party over his choice of words regarding the tragic killing of former nursing student Laken Riley during his recent State of the Union address. During a tense exchange with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Biden focused his speech on the White House’s efforts to revamp the immigration system in advance of the 2024 general election. Greene, donning a “Say Her Name” button in honor of Riley, interrupted Biden’s remarks, pressing him to acknowledge the young woman’s death. Biden responded by referring to Riley’s killer as an “illegal,” much to the dismay of many Democrats. This term goes against the Biden administration’s directive to replace “illegal” with “undocumented.”
Democrats ding Biden for going ‘MAGA’ by calling Laken Riley suspect ‘illegal’ https://t.co/k5egQurQNw https://t.co/k5egQurQNw
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 8, 2024
Members of Biden’s own party swiftly condemned his use of the term, with Rep. Chuy Garcia expressing deep disappointment as a proud immigrant himself. Rep. Ilhan Omar emphasized that no human being should be labeled as “illegal,” while Rep. Delia Ramirez echoed this sentiment, disappointed in Biden’s use of what she deemed dehumanizing language. Rep. Joaquin Castro went so far as to compare Biden’s rhetoric to that of former President Donald Trump, accusing it of putting a target on the backs of Latinos and aligning with “MAGA extremism.”
However, senior Democratic lawmakers attempted to downplay the controversy, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries commending Biden for presenting a comprehensive plan to mend the immigration system and address border challenges. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi dismissed the issue as unimportant, asserting that Biden’s focus was on expressing sympathy for the family. Interestingly, Republicans refrained from coming to Biden’s defense, but National Republican Congressional Committee press secretary Will Reinert criticized the Democrats’ focus on Biden’s language, emphasizing the need for Republican leadership to address more pressing matters, such as preventing tragedies like Riley’s death.
Biden’s use of the term “illegal” has ignited a firestorm within his own party, with members of Congress sharply divided over the appropriateness of his language. As the debate rages on, it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact the ongoing immigration reform efforts and the larger political landscape.
