U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) slammed U.S. Senator Josh Hawley on Monday, after the far-right Republican of Missouri attacked the upper chamber’s border bill.
Senator Hawley, possibly best-known for his “raised-fist salute to the rioters” at the U.S. Capitol during the January 6, 2021 insurrection, blasted the Senate border bill in several social media posts.
“Did I mention this border bill gives taxpayer funded lawyers to illegal immigrants,” Hawley wrote, to strong pushback.
The Senate border bill, which also provides billions in critical aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, does provide taxpayer-funded attorneys to certain immigrants – as U.S. Senator Murphy and others pointed out.
“Did you mention it’s just for unaccompanied children?” Sen. Murphy wrote in response.
“You know, 8 year old kids fleeing violence or certain death, who arrive at our border alone, shivering and frightened, traumatized from the journey, not able to speak the language,” he continued. “We aren’t monsters. We should help them.”
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Others also lashed out at the GOP Senator from Missouri.
“For unaccompanied children 13 and younger. Would you rather they represent *themselves* in legal proceedings that will decide their fate?” asked professor of law and CNN contributor Steve Vladeck.
“This self-professed Christian is outraged at the idea of migrant kids – unaccompanied kids! – having legal representation in court,” observed journalist and author Mehdi Hasan.
“This applies specifically to children. However, due to the murky nature of the INA [Immigration and Nationality Act] and whether cases are handled in immigration court or as a criminal offense, the 6th Amendment already applies to adults in criminal cases. Gross politicizing, as usual, from Hawley,” wrote California State University, Monterey Bay lecturer Garrett George.
He added: “So basically, protecting people facing criminal charges is a constitutional right, but protecting children and those not facing criminal charges in immigration generally is a step too far. Good politics.”