GOP Rep. Lawler Slams NY Governor Hochul: “Americans First, Not Illegals!” in Explosive House Showdown

Sparks flew on Capitol Hill this week as New York Congressman Michael Lawler went head-to-head with Governor Kathy Hochul, making national waves with his fiery critiques of her immigration policies and spending on undocumented residents.

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During a congressional hearing, Lawler blasted Hochul for what he termed an “irresponsible use of taxpayer money,” accusing her administration of spending billions on “free housing, healthcare, and services for illegal immigrants” while ordinary New Yorkers foot the bill for rising taxes and fees.

The intensity ramped up as Lawler pressed Hochul to answer “yes or no”—does she support giving illegal immigrants access to taxpayer-funded healthcare and driver’s licenses? After several attempts to clarify her position, Hochul admitted, “We support giving money [and] support… The answer is yes,” defending the state’s expansive Medicaid coverage but drawing Lawler’s ire for prioritizing undocumented individuals over New York citizens.

Lawler pointed to rising crime among non-citizens in New York City and aggressively confronted Hochul about enforcement, asking whether she had ever called ICE to report undocumented criminals. Hochul sidestepped, saying her agencies handled such matters, which only fueled Lawler’s frustration.

In a stunning moment, Lawler grilled Hochul about her willingness to sign the controversial “New York for All Act,” which would make New York a sanctuary state. Hochul repeatedly dodged, refusing to say if she would sign it, citing the immense volume of bills she must review—prompting Lawler to call her refusal “shameful.”

Congressman Lawler declared, “You’ve done a terrible job as governor. Frankly, New York is better off with you down here and not in the state,” accusing Hochul and her “pro-criminal policies” of contributing to New York’s decline and fueling an “exodus” to safer states like Florida and Texas.

The hearing captured the boiling-point frustration of Republican lawmakers with what they consider Democratic mismanagement of the border, lax law enforcement, and misplaced spending—especially as Governor Hochul has requested billions in federal aid for infrastructure while, Lawler says, “squandering billions on illegal immigration.”

The emotional testimony didn’t stop at fiscal responsibility and crime. Lawler and GOP colleagues emphasized the need to “put Americans first,” expressing outrage that homeless citizens are overlooked while undocumented immigrants receive state assistance—and argued that Hochul “conflates legal with illegal immigration,” a distinction they say is key to effective governance.

As partisan tempers soared, the moment became a lightning rod for the ongoing national argument over immigration, identity, and the priorities of American government.

What’s next? As immigration continues to divide the country ahead of the 2024 election, the message from this explosive confrontation is clear: the question of who should come first—Americans or undocumented migrants—remains one of the most contentious issues on the national stage.

Have an opinion? Should states spend taxpayer funds on undocumented immigrants, or should US citizens always come first? Sound off in the comments below! Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more breaking political news.