Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) engaged in a shouting match during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on June 30, 2026 [1].
The confrontation highlights the deepening partisan divide over immigration enforcement and the legal status of sanctuary-city policies in the U.S.
The clash occurred in Washington, D.C., during a session focused on sanctuary-city policies [2]. The hearing featured testimony from the mother of Sheridan Gorman, a murdered Loyola student [3].
Rep. Lawler criticized sanctuary policies by referencing the deaths of immigration-related victims, including Renee Good and Alexi Pretti [4]. Rep. Raskin responded by accusing Lawler of violating committee rules. The exchange escalated, leading Raskin to say, "Get the hell out of here!" [5].
Lawler said, "You're a disgrace" [6]. The disruption forced the committee chair to intervene to restore order, shouting "Order! Order!" to stop the argument [7].
The disagreement centered on whether the citations of specific victims during the hearing were appropriate or a breach of the committee's established procedural rules [4]. Lawler said the deaths were a direct result of failed immigration policies, while Raskin focused on the breach of decorum and protocol [4].
This incident is the latest in a series of contentious hearings regarding the intersection of local law enforcement and federal immigration mandates. The committee's focus remains on how sanctuary policies affect public safety and the ability of federal authorities to deport non-citizens.
“"Get the hell out of here!"”
The volatility of this exchange reflects the high emotional and political stakes of the sanctuary-city debate. By centering the argument on specific victims and committee rules, the lawmakers illustrated a broader conflict between using anecdotal evidence to drive policy change and adhering to formal legislative procedure.
