During his State of the Union address, President Biden sparked controversy by referring to the alleged killer of Laken Riley as “an illegal.” The Georgia student was allegedly murdered by a Venezuelan illegal immigrant, leading to heated exchanges between Biden and Republican lawmakers.
The use of the term “illegal” by Biden goes against guidance from the Department of Homeland Security, which had advised against using terms like “illegal alien” due to their dehumanizing nature. Democrats criticized Biden for his choice of words, with many on the left viewing it as insensitive.
Republican lawmakers heckled Biden to say Riley’s name during the address, blaming her death on Biden’s policies regarding the border crisis. They argue that the incident highlights the need for stricter immigration measures.
Despite the backlash, Biden called on Congress to pass a bipartisan border bill to address the ongoing crisis. The bill includes measures aimed at tackling illegal immigration and securing the border. However, conservatives argue that Biden could address the issue without the need for additional legislation.
During his address, Biden also mistakenly referred to Riley by the wrong first name, further fueling criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. The incident has reignited debates surrounding immigration policy and language use in official government discourse.
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