During a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing in 2021 discussing 'U.S. Policy Toward Haitian Migrants,' New York Democrat Yvette Clarke gave away the game when it comes to why many politicians have no problem with the influx of illegal immigrants. While it’s true the comments were years old, the border crisis is ongoing, making the clip as relevant today as it was then—hence the reason it went viral earlier this month.
“We have a diaspora [in Brooklyn] that can absorb a significant number of migrants and when I hear colleagues talk about the doors of the inn being closed, no room at the inn, I’m saying I need more people in my district for redistricting purposes, and those members could clearly fit here,” she said at the time.
The remarks didn’t just make headlines, it prompted Republican senators to draft legislation tackling the issue head on.
Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) introduced the Equal Representation Act last week that ensures “only legal citizens are factored into the count for Congressional districts and the Electoral College map that determines presidential elections.”
Blue cities are welcoming illegal immigrants to keep congressional seats and federal dollars.
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) January 26, 2024
Illegals should not be counted as U.S. citizens. pic.twitter.com/4JY10yzvhn
The bill would require the census to include a citizenship question that paints a better picture of the U.S. population, thus barring noncitizens from being included in congressional district and Electoral College apportionment. The demographic data would also need to be made public.
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“Blue states may be losing citizens over their liberal policies, but they’re making up for it by welcoming illegal immigrants,” Blackburn said in a statement. “Democrats have admitted the quiet part out loud as they continue to justify their open border policies: they just need a higher head count to help them acquire more seats in Congress and more dollars from the federal government. This is wrong and un-American. Only U.S. citizens should be counted for purposes of congressional and Electoral College apportionment.”
GOP Sens. Mike Braun (IN), Katie Britt (AL), Ted Budd (NC), Bill Cassidy (LA), Kevin Cramer (ND), Mike Crapo (ID), Steve Daines (MT), Cindy Hyde-Smith (MS), James Lankford (OK), Mike Lee (UT), Cynthia Lummis (WY), Roger Marshall (KS), Pete Ricketts (NE), Jim Risch (ID), Mike Rounds (SD), Eric Schmitt (MO), John Thune (SD) Tommy Tuberville (AL), and J.D. Vance (OH) cosponsored the legislation.
