A Democratic representative is facing criticism for refusing to stand during the President’s speech.Donald Trump‘s joint address to Congresscurrently, the president is recognizing the families of children who were raped and murdered by undocumented immigrants.
MichiganRep. Shri Thanedar acknowledged that he stayed seated when Trump honored the families during a speech last year. Among those present was the mother of Jocelyn Nungaray, a young girl who was reportedly killed by two undocumented immigrants inTexas in June 2024.
Thanedar was accompanied by a number of othersDemocratswho remained in their seats as the families were presented during Trump’s speech in March.
The explosion of consequences became public on Friday when Thanedar was questioned about it.Fox News hosted by Sean Hannity, who asked him: ‘Did you stand up? Did you show respect to that family that suffered so much?’
When asked why he didn’t stand for the grieving families, Thanedar explained that he stayed seated as a form of silent protest against Donald Trump.
“I didn’t stand because of the president, I was simply tired of him,” Thanedar stated.
Hannity responded: “You remained inactive and refused to support families who lost their children—a 12-year-old girl who was raped and killed—and you couldn’t advocate for them because you were focused on politics.”
I wouldn’t tolerate this president,” Thanedar retorted. “He was lying.
Thanedar continued by alleging that Trump exploited a tragedy for political gain.
Following some Democrats facing criticism for choosing to stay seated, Alexis Nungaray, Nungaray’s mother, criticized their behavior in the days following Trump’s speech.
“I found it extremely timid that many Democrats didn’t stand, didn’t applaud, and didn’t take any action to back what Donald Trump was attempting as president to improve this country,” Nungaray said to Hannity at that time.
It’s deeply embarrassing for us as American citizens that these are the individuals we have serving in Congress.
Thanedar has become one of the most vocal opponents of immigration enforcement on Capitol Hill, proposing bills aimed at completely abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
He intends to present the ‘Abolish ICE Act,’ which his office claims would terminate the agency and halt its enforcement powers.
We need to reform ICE, but at this point, it seems that ICE is beyond repair,” Thanedar stated during a press conference on Wednesday. “ICE is completely out of control.
He took it a step further, claiming that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should “bear the repercussions” and be removed from office, while maintaining that immigration control was managed successfully prior to the establishment of ICE in 2003.
We can accomplish this without ICE,” Thanedar stated. “We don’t require the killers. We don’t need members of this paramilitary group roaming our streets, frightening American citizens, frightening mothers, and frightening our children.
The pressure arises as tensions escalate after Renee Nicole Good was killed during an encounter with immigration officers in Minneapolis.
The event has sparked demonstrations and intensified Democratic critiques of federal law enforcement across cities. A subsequent shooting involving an ICE officer in Minneapolis a few days later has further escalated the discussion.
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, whose constituency covers the region where Good was killed, has referred to ICE as an ‘occupying force’ operating in a ‘lawless’ manner.
Other Democrats supported the push to limit the agency, with Rep. Ro Khanna stating, ‘We must not allocate funds for a rise in the ICE budget. We need to confront this issue.’
Recent surveys indicate a closely split population. An Economist/YouGov survey46 percent back the idea of dismantling ICE, whereas 43 percent are against it.
Although Thanedar has expressed criticism towards the president,The congressman has been at the center of controversies of his own.including the claimed neglect of over 100 dogs following the closure of a pharmaceutical testing facility linked to his previous company during bankruptcy proceedings in 2010.
Thanedar has consistently and firmly rejected the claims.
These accusations are entirely untrue and have been thoroughly examined in court,he told last year,claiming that all animals were given homes and that ‘no animal was harmed or died during my supervision.’
He mentioned that the facility was under banking control during that period and stated he was unaware of the animals’ treatment after he departed from the company.
jasdooit 
Leave a comment