Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) engaged in a shouting match during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday [1].
The confrontation highlights the deepening partisan divide over immigration and the legality of sanctuary-city policies in the U.S.
The incident occurred June 30, 2026 [1], during a hearing focused on sanctuary-city policies at the Capitol on Hill in Washington, D.C. [2]. The dispute escalated into a screaming match as the two lawmakers debated the impact of immigration on local communities [3].
During the exchange, Lawler said, "We will not allow illegal immigration to undermine our communities" [4]. The verbal conflict intensified as Raskin responded with sharp criticism toward his colleague.
Raskin said to Lawler, "You're a disgrace," according to reports [5]. The confrontation reached a peak when Raskin told the New York representative to "Get the hell out!" [6].
House Judiciary Committee hearings are intended to gather testimony and evidence to inform legislative action. However, the tension between the members disrupted the proceedings, a reflection of the broader national debate over border security and urban policy.
Lawmakers on the committee were tasked with reviewing the effects of sanctuary policies, which limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. The heated nature of the Tuesday exchange suggests that finding a bipartisan consensus on these policies remains unlikely in the current political climate.
“"Get the hell out!"”
This confrontation underscores the volatility of the sanctuary-city debate, where legal arguments over federalism and local jurisdiction often collapse into personal animosity. As these policies continue to create friction between municipal governments and federal authorities, the lack of decorum in committee hearings signals a breakdown in the traditional deliberative process of the House Judiciary Committee.
