(CNSNews.com) - House Democrats refuse to pass legislation that might slow the overwhelming tide of illegal immigration at the nation's Southwest border, but today they will find time to vote on a resolution formally condemning President Donald Trump for his "xenophobic tweets."
Democrats are seizing the political advantage Trump handed them on Sunday, when he tweeted that "progressive" Democrat congresswomen who criticize the U.S. should "go back and help fix the totally broken and crime-infested places from which they came." Three of the four far-left freshman lawmakers were born in the United States.
The tweets renewed the Democrat argument that President Trump is a "racist," a word that echoed all day Sunday and Monday from liberal cable TV studios to Capitol Hill.
"The House cannot allow the President’s characterization of immigrants to our country to stand," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wrote in a "Dear Colleague" letter on Monday. "Our Republican colleagues must join us in condemning the President’s xenophobic tweets.
"Please join us in supporting a forthcoming resolution sponsored by Congressman Tom Malinowski, who was born abroad, and Congressman Jamie Raskin, along with other Democratic Members born abroad, referencing President Ronald Reagan’s last speech as President in which he said, 'Thanks to each wave of new arrivals to this land of opportunity, we’re a nation forever young, forever bursting with energy and new ideas, and always on the cutting edge, always leading the world to the next frontier… If we ever closed the door to new Americans, our leadership in the world would soon be lost.'"
Pelosi also criticized the president's new rule that she says will "undermine" the nation's asylum laws.
The rule says that migrants must apply for asylum in the first country they reach, rather than passing through a number of countries to claim asylum here. There are exceptions for people who are trafficked, persecuted, or tortured.
"Unfortunately, this morning, the Trump Administration announced they will seek to undermine our nation’s asylum laws," Pelosi wrote. "This cruel and anti-immigrant Administration is overreaching and stacking the deck against asylum seekers by limiting their rights to due process under our laws. This is simply not who we are as a country. Instead, we should be working in a bipartisan way for comprehensive immigration reform to protect our values as we protect our borders."
Democrats have been generally opposed to every policy and every proposal emanating from Trump since the day he surprised them by winning the 2016 election.
The resolution condemning Trump's tweets is a way to crack Trump's Republican support in Congress, something that would be necessary if impeachment is to proceed, as many Democrats hope it will.
Far from backing down on his inflammatory Sunday tweets, Trump on Monday continued bashing the congresswomen who want to transform the United States.
His most recent tweets include:
We will never be a Socialist or Communist Country. IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY HERE, YOU CAN LEAVE! It is your choice, and your choice alone. This is about love for America. Certain people HATE our Country....
....They are anti-Israel, pro Al-Qaeda, and comment on the 9/11 attack, “some people did something.” Radical Left Democrats want Open Borders, which means drugs, crime, human trafficking, and much more....
....Detention facilities are not Concentration Camps! America has never been stronger than it is now – rebuilt Military, highest Stock Market EVER, lowest unemployment and more people working than ever before. Keep America Great!
The Dems were trying to distance themselves from the four “progressives,” but now they are forced to embrace them. That means they are endorsing Socialism, hate of Israel and the USA! Not good for the Democrats!
The Obama Administration built the Cages, not the Trump Administration! DEMOCRATS MUST GIVE US THE VOTES TO CHANGE BAD IMMIGRATION LAWS.
"MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"