A House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on immigration policy erupted into an intense shouting match on Tuesday, highlighting the deep-seated divisions that continue to polarize this contentious issue.

The drama unfolded as Republican Rep. Mike Lawler and Democrat Jamie Raskin clashed over the impact of sanctuary city policies. The session, meant to discuss the limited cooperation between local law enforcement and immigration authorities in certain jurisdictions, quickly deviated from its intended course.

Tensions escalated when Lawler introduced the mother of Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old college student from his district who was tragically killed in Chicago by a Venezuelan national reportedly without legal status in the U.S. Lawler’s remarks sharply criticized Democratic lawmakers for their perceived greater sympathy towards U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed by immigration agents in Minneapolis.

“While some of my colleagues may not want to hear the truth, the same outrage you feel about Renee Good and Alex Pretti, you should feel about Sheridan Gorman and Laken Riley and every angel family in this country,” Lawler asserted.

This statement provoked a fiery response from Raskin, who retorted, “I do feel that outrage,” leading to Lawler’s rebuttal, “You do not!” The exchange only intensified from there, with Raskin challenging Lawler’s empathy towards the victims of immigration agents.

The situation quickly descended into chaos when Democrat Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the ranking member of the committee, intervened, criticizing Lawler for deviating from a standard witness introduction and accusing him of politicizing the hearing. Despite her efforts, the verbal confrontation between Lawler and Raskin escalated.

“You don't belong in this committee. You should get the hell out of here!” Raskin exclaimed, accusing Lawler of ignorance toward committee rules and the Constitution. Lawler shot back, accusing Raskin of shame for his stance on sanctuary city policies.

In the aftermath, Jayapal expressed disappointment over the breakdown of decorum, stating, “Thanks to Mr. Lawler's outrageous outburst, we will not allow this to happen again. This was an agreement between the chair and the ranking member. And unfortunately, you're not able to control your members.”

As of now, neither Lawler nor Raskin’s offices have issued a formal response to the incident. The heated exchange underscores the ongoing struggle to find common ground on immigration policies within the halls of Congress.