House GOP says crimes committed by illegal immigrants evidence of open border, Dems disagree

House Republicans said during a hearing on the "Biden-Harris border crisis" that the crimes committed by illegal immigrants inside the U.S. serve as evidence of an open border under the current administration but Democrats disagreed.

The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing Tuesday titled, "The Biden-Harris Border Crisis: Victim Perspectives."

Mike Boudreaux, sheriff in Tulare County, California, said at the hearing that the Biden-Harris administration has implemented "open border policies."

Boudreaux said in the last 3 years there has been a "deadly impact of violent criminals" coming into U.S. communities.

Republicans said victims of illegal immigrant crime should be alive today because the perpetrators should not have been in the U.S. in the first place.

Patty Morin, mother of Rachel Morin, Tammy Nobles, mother of Kayla Hamilton and Alexis Nungaray, mother of Jocelyn Nungaray, testified about the deaths of their children at the hands of illegal immigrants during the Biden's term in office. Each mother said their children would be alive if the border was secure and migrants were properly vetted before being released under the Biden administration. 

"Every one of these deaths was 100% preventable," said Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., on X during the hearing.

Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., said crimes were committed by illegal immigrants during the Trump administration but he doesn't blame Trump for them.

Later in his opening statement, Nadler called for Congress to pass immigration reform that offers a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants.