Democratic senators chastised President Joe Biden on Thursday for using the term “illegals” in his State of the Union speech.
Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) coerced Biden to mention “illegals” after she mentioned Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was allegedly killed by an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, according to the police. During his address, Biden mispronounced Riley’s name and referred to her as “Lincoln Riley.”
Biden continued by saying that millions of illegal immigrants should be given amnesty and that he required Republicans to pass a bill supported by Democrats in order to be able to protect the border.
His allusion to “illegals” infuriated many Democrats, despite his advocacy for socialist ideas.
The head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), expressed her disappointment to the Associated Press over Biden’s remark on illegal immigrants.
“I wish he hadn’t engaged with Marjorie Taylor Greene and used the word illegal,” she said.
Other Democrats shared her outrage:
Disappointed that @POTUS would use such dehumanizing right wing rhetoric to speak about immigrants tonight. No human being is illegal. #SOTU
— Delia Ramirez (@DeliaRamirezIL) March 8, 2024
Previously, the Biden administration has fought to have the terms “illegal alien” and “illegal immigrant” removed from any federal use.
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