Democrat Gabe Vasquez proudly bragged about voting against the Laken Riley Act designed to detain illegal immigrants charged with violent crimes, claiming “due process” was more important than protecting American citizens from criminal aliens.
At a Glance
- Rep. Gabe Vasquez openly admitted voting against the Laken Riley Act, claiming due process concerns outweigh public safety
- The Laken Riley Act was signed into law by President Trump in January 2024 after Riley was murdered by an illegal immigrant
- Democrats like AOC claim the act would cause people to be “rounded up and put into private detention camps” without court hearings
- Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.) expressed regret for initially supporting the bill, prioritizing immigrant concerns over victim protections
- Republicans accuse Democrats of choosing to protect criminal illegal aliens over the safety of American citizens
Democrats Boast About Opposing Victim Protection
In a stunning display of misplaced priorities, Democratic Representative Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico openly bragged about voting against the Laken Riley Act, legislation designed to protect Americans from violent illegal immigrants. When asked directly if he voted against the bill, Vasquez proudly declared, “I did. I voted against [the bill].” This is the same legislation named after 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, who was brutally murdered by an illegal immigrant who should never have been in our country in the first place.
“Because due process is a fundamental part of who we are as Americans” – Rep. Gabe Vasquez.
Apparently, in Vasquez’s world, ensuring due process for illegal immigrants accused of violent crimes takes precedence over protecting innocent American lives. The Laken Riley Act, which President Trump signed into law in January 2024, simply requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain illegal migrants who have been arrested or charged with violent crimes. It’s not exactly a radical concept that those who enter our country illegally and then commit violent crimes should be detained rather than released back onto our streets.
Radical Left Representatives’ Delusional Claims
Not to be outdone in the competition for most outrageous defense of illegal immigrants, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez went full hysteria mode, claiming that the Laken Riley Act would lead to people being “rounded up and put into private detention camps” for simply being accused of shoplifting. This kind of hyperbolic fear-mongering is both dishonest and disrespectful to the memory of Laken Riley and other American victims of crimes committed by illegal aliens.
“In the wake of tragedy, we are seeing a fundamental erosion of our civil rights. In this bill, if a person is so much as accused of a crime — if someone wants to point a finger and accuse someone of shoplifting — they would be rounded up and put into a private detention camp and sent out for deportation without a day in court.” – Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Corte.
Meanwhile, Representative Eric Swalwell played the race card, claiming “people are going to be targeted because they’re brown.” This tired, divisive rhetoric is not only factually baseless but deliberately stokes racial tensions for political gain. The law targets illegal immigrants who commit crimes, regardless of skin color. Senator Cory Booker went even further, suggesting that Democrats who supported this common-sense legislation would “rue the day” and be “haunted” by their decision to prioritize American safety over illegal immigrant protections.
The Great Awakening: Republicans Call Out the Madness
Texas Republican Representative Tony Gonzales rightly pointed out that the border crisis is “a real and lasting issue as a result of four years of inaction under President Biden. That’s why Americans voted for safer communities and to restore law and order and President Trump is delivering on that promise with legislation like the Laken Riley Act.” Unlike Democrats who prioritize the rights of criminals over victims, Republicans understand that government’s first responsibility is to protect its citizens.
“Time and time again, out-of-touch Democrat Gabe Vasquez chooses to prioritize criminal illegal aliens over the well-being of hardworking New Mexicans” – Zach Bannon.
The National Republican Congressional Committee accurately summed up the situation, stating that “out-of-touch Democrat Gabe Vasquez chooses to prioritize criminal illegal aliens over the well-being of hardworking New Mexicans.” This is the crux of the issue – Democrats have become so obsessed with protecting illegal immigrants, even violent criminals, that they’ve forgotten their duty to protect American citizens. They’re more concerned with the “rights” of those who shouldn’t be in our country than the safety of the people they’re elected to represent.
A Matter of Basic Common Sense
The Laken Riley Act isn’t some radical, draconian measure – it’s basic common sense. If you enter our country illegally and then commit violent crimes, you should be detained and deported. Period. This shouldn’t be controversial. The fact that Democrats are fighting against this reveals just how far they’ve strayed from mainstream American values. Their opposition to this legislation speaks volumes about their priorities: illegal immigrants first, American citizens last.
Every time an innocent American like Laken Riley loses their life to someone who should never have been in our country in the first place, remember that Democrats like Gabe Vasquez, AOC, and Eric Swalwell fought to protect the “rights” of the perpetrator rather than the safety of the victim. This perversion of justice isn’t just wrong – it’s dangerous, it’s un-American, and voters won’t forget it.
