Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) engaged in a shouting match during a House Judiciary Committee hearing last week [1].
The confrontation highlights the deep partisan divide over U.S. immigration and sanctuary-city policies, reflecting broader national tensions over border enforcement and local governance.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, June 25, 2026 [1], during a committee hearing held at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. [2]. The two lawmakers traded insults and curses as the discussion shifted toward the legality and impact of sanctuary-city policies [2].
Witnesses and video recordings show the exchange escalated into an intense shouting match. During the argument, Lawler said, "You're a disgrace" [3]. The confrontation required the use of the gavel to restore order as the representatives continued to trade insults [4].
The disagreement centered on the implementation of sanctuary-city policies and broader U.S. immigration strategy [2]. While the specific catalyst for the outburst varied by report, the primary conflict remained the tension between federal immigration mandates and local sanctuary policies [2].
This event is one of several recent instances of heightened volatility within House committee hearings. The exchange between Lawler and Raskin occurred in a setting intended for legislative testimony and policy deliberation, a process often hampered by partisan friction.
“"You're a disgrace."”
The volatility of this exchange underscores the difficulty of achieving bipartisan consensus on immigration reform. When high-ranking members of the House Judiciary Committee engage in public verbal altercations, it signals a breakdown in legislative decorum and suggests that sanctuary-city disputes remain a primary flashpoint for political conflict in the U.S.
