Jim Jordan Throws Down with Immigration Expert in Tense Hearing Clash: They’re ‘Ripping Off the Taxpayer!’

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) got into it with an immigration expert Tuesday in a heated exchange about immigrants receiving government assistance.

A House Judiciary subcommittee held a hearing to discuss sanctuary policies for illegal immigrants. Also involved in the hearing was David Bier, the director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute.

During Jordan’s questioning of Bier, he questioned part of Bier’s testimony in which he said, “People, whatever their ancestry, background, or birthplace, benefit the United States.” Bier stood firm on his comments, responding with, “People of all types of backgrounds benefit the United States, not every single person.”

From there, Jordan pivoted to Somali immigrants in Minnesota. The exchange continued:

JORDAN: How many Somalis are in the state of Minnesota? Do you know, Mr. Bier?

BIER: Tens of thousands, I don’t know.

JORDAN: Forty-two thousand. Do you know how many of those 42,000 Somalis in Minnesota are on food stamps?

BIER: Probably about 50%.

JORDAN: Fifty-four percent. You know how many are on Medicaid?

BIER: It’s not a pop quiz. I don’t know.

JORDAN: Seventy-three percent. You know how many get some kind of government assistance?

BIER: A high percentage.

JORDAN: “A high percentage.” But you just said in your statement, “People, whatever their ancestry, background or birthplace, benefit the United States.” Does it benefit the United States if 42,000 Somalis that come to Minnesota and 89% of them are on–

Bier then cut Jordan off, saying he helped pass the “Big, Beautiful Bill” that provides government assistance to immigrants.

“You could have gotten rid of welfare for immigrants,” Bier continued, “and I supported that.”

Jordan again read Bier’s testimony back to him before asking how the U.S. benefits from providing government assistance to immigrants.

“The public assistance doesn’t,” Bier responded. “The people working, contributing– So get rid of the public assistance! I support getting rid of the public assistance! You are the ones voting for bills that fund the public assistance for them!”

Jordan repeated his question, asking if the public assistance was a benefit to the country. Again, Bier clarified that “giving them money does not benefit the country. Them working and contributing benefits the country.”

Jordan then brought up Minnesota, claiming immigrants were “engaging in fraud” and “ripping off the taxpayer.”

“And you say that’s a benefit to the country,” Jordan added.

Undeterred, Bier reaffirmed his belief that “people of all types benefit the country.”

Watch above via C-SPAN

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