By Jim Talamonti
The Center Square

A member of a minority grassroots Chicago organization testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary Wednesday that violent gang members in the U.S. illegally are hurting minority communities, but committee members from the Democratic Party left before she spoke.

Wednesday’s hearing in Washington was titled, “ICE Under Fire: The Radical Left’s Crusade Against Immigration Enforcement.”

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, opened by saying violent illegal immigrants entered the country during former President Joe Biden’s administration and took up residence in cities with migrant sanctuary policies.

“Sadly, many of these communities have failed under the weight of failed policing mandates,” Cornyn said.

Cornyn asked why the “radical left” is so intent on protecting illegal immigrants.

“That is the most important question that remains unanswered,” Cornyn said.

Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, said the hearing should have featured government witnesses to provide data and facts behind the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s claims of rising attacks on federal immigration law enforcement officers.

Padilla said Americans have had enough of “violent takedowns” by federal immigration enforcement agents.

“They’re sick of masked agents disrespecting daycares, schools and churches, disappearing loved ones and intimidating our communities,” the California Democrat said.

Padilla said the hearing’s title did not set the stage for serious or constructive conversation.

“And for that reason I refuse to give oxygen to the fire of disinformation and propaganda that this meeting was set up to ignite, and I refuse to be part of this charade,” Padilla said.

Padilla then got up and left. Other Democrats joined Padilla in boycotting the event.

Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, did not speak at the hearing.

Chicago Flips Red Vice President Danielle Carter-Walters said the activities of illegal alien gang members are affecting communities that are predominantly Black and vulnerable.

“The place where the ICE raid happened on 75th and South Shore Drive, Tren de Aragua had taken over that building, and the fake news failed to mention that. Prior to that, a couple of months earlier, one of those Tren de Aragua gang members had executed another illegal alien, shot him in the head and buried his body in concrete in one of those apartment buildings,” Carter-Walters testified.

Carter-Walters said over 56,000 illegal aliens are living in Chicago homes while veterans and homeless people live outside.

“ICE tries to stop this, but the judges, the Illinois attorney general, the Chicago Teachers Union, certain clergy members, the mayor and the governor block them every step of the way. This is not compassion. This is failure,” Carter-Walters said.

Carter-Walters testified on Capitol Hill in April before the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement.

Another witness at Wednesday’s hearing, Goliad County Sheriff Roy Boyd, said that in Texas, Mexican cartels have a vast intelligence network and keep tabs on people they have smuggled into the country.

“Millions of illegal aliens now residing in the United States are part of the logistical support operations for illicit cartel activities throughout our country,” Boyd said.

Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Florida, said she would be introducing legislation to give federal immigration enforcement officers a buffer zone while they perform their duties.

“We ask them to do incredibly dangerous jobs. We could give them the space to do it,” Moody said.

Carter-Walters said it was no surprise that Democrats refused to participate in the hearing.

“They don’t care about the American citizens,” Carter-Walters said.

Moody promised Carter-Walters she would work on legislation to restrict funding from cities that refuse to work with federal law enforcement.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said many of the Biden administration’s policies were harmful, but “none more so” than open borders.

“My own state of Texas saw a greater invasion than any state in the country,” Cruz said.

Cruz said the invasion ended overnight once Donald Trump was elected president last November.

“We needed a president who would follow the damn law,” Cruz said.