At a heated immigration hearing on Wednesday, Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García, D-Ill., brushed off violent crimes committed by illegal immigrants as isolated incidents, drawing sharp criticism from his Republican colleagues and community advocates.

Speaking during a House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement session, García responded to GOP concerns about immigration-related crime by accusing them of unfairly targeting migrants. “Republicans have lifted up some tragedies that involve immigrants committing a few crimes,” he said, calling Republicans “dishonest and cruel.”

.@RepChuyGarcia (D-IL) dismisses the murders of Laken Riley, Rachel Morin, and other Americans killed by illegal immigrant gang members as "Republicans lifting up some tragedies that have involved immigrants committing a few crimes." pic.twitter.com/tsw6zw9TF7

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 9, 2025

“This is the exception, not the rule,” García added. “I live in an immigrant neighborhood in Chicago. I know what it’s like.”

His comments came just after Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., blasted sanctuary city policies for putting known violent criminals back on the streets. “There have been murders, there have been rapes, there have been disfigurements,” Van Drew said. “We know what happened to Laken Riley. We know what’s happened to so many people. We’re trying to clean up the chaos that was left behind.”

Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, also spoke shortly before García, citing cases where sanctuary cities ignored ICE detainers on rapists and killers — many of whom went on to reoffend.

García pushed back by defending sanctuary cities like Chicago, claiming such policies have led to “lower crime and poverty rates.” He ended his remarks by saying Republicans are “not interested in public safety or crime victims” due to their support for President Donald Trump’s immigration and deportation policies.

Danielle Carter-Walters, Vice President of Chicago Flips Red, pushed back against García during her testimony.
“It’s funny that Mr. García is from Chicago, and he cannot tell you what’s happening in our community. If he came into our community, he would see all the gang graffiti, the Tren de Aragua signs, the MS-13. He would see across the street in a park where they’re putting the shelters, all the needles in the park,” Carter-Walters said.

She also criticized sanctuary policies, pointing to her husband’s experience as a former police officer, and claimed that many crimes committed by illegal immigrants go unreported.