Old North News

Richard Hudson, U.S. Representative for North Carolina’s 9th District, expressed concerns about the Democratic Party's priorities in a post on X dated April 16. He said that Democrats are "out of touch with Americans because they prioritize the rights of criminal non-citizens over the lives of murdered U.S. citizens."

"A Maryland Senator cares more about an MS-13 gang member who was in our country illegally than the ACTUAL Maryland citizens murdered by criminal illegals," said Hudson. "Just another example of why the American people rejected the Democrats' insane, out-of-touch agenda."

The Office of Justice Programs has reported that MS-13, also known as Mara Salvatrucha, is a transnational gang originating from El Salvador with a presence in numerous U.S. states. The gang is associated with violent criminal activities such as extortion, drug trafficking, and murder, often targeting both members and communities. Various law enforcement agencies have labeled MS-13 as a significant threat to public safety.

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in Fiscal Year 2023, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations made over 170,000 administrative arrests. Of these individuals, 139,000 had criminal histories involving a total of 486,000 charges and convictions. These included 1,713 related to homicide and more than 7,500 for sexual assault. This data underscores ICE's focus on prioritizing threats to public safety.

Pete Sessions noted that in December 2023, members of Congress led by him called on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to provide updated data on crimes committed by noncitizens due to concerns over rising illegal immigration. Sessions mentioned that previous GAO reports indicated tens of thousands of criminal offenses committed by noncitizens, including violent crimes. Lawmakers stressed the importance of current statistics to guide immigration and enforcement policies.

Hudson has represented North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District since 2013 and serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He is also the Chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) for the 2024 cycle.