Fraught times in international relations, whether in commerce and trade, in war, in migration of people between nations, cause all Americans with an interest in the wider world to attempt at least to become instant experts on otherwise rather arcane laws that govern such interactions.
Probably that desire for new expertise affects members of Congress as well. When we elect our local members of the House of Representatives, we certainly want them to be well-rounded in their knowledge. But we also don’t expect them to be experts on everything. We do want them to be thoughtful and use their voting power to look out for our interests.
Four our fourth installment of the new feature In-House Opinions, we asked Southern California House members this week “for thoughts and feelings on President Trump’s freeze on asylum decisions and vow to ‘permanently pause migration from all Third World countries’ in the wake of the shootings of National Guard members in Washington, D.C.”
Six replied by their deadline. Reps. Jay Obernolte, Luz Rivas, Derek Tran, George Whitesides and Darrell Issa did not respond. Rep. Obernolte has failed to answer four questions in a row.
Here are those who did:
Rep. Gil Cisneros: “Donald Trump is politicizing a tragedy to further harass and harm immigrant communities across the country. The National Guard should have never been deployed to D.C. in the first place. Now, he’s using a horrific incident to incite fear and heighten tensions even more by targeting entire immigrant communities because of the actions of one man who was suffering from mental distress.”
Rep. Ken Calvert: “Visiting or immigrating to America is a privilege, not a right. I support efforts to ensure we are thoroughly vetting all foreign nationals trying to enter our country. The ability to adequately vet foreign nationals requires both cooperation and competency from foreign governments. If Third World or other counties are unable or unwilling to assist us in vetting foreign nationals, I believe pausing migration from those nations is generally justified. Throughout our history, America has been a generous nation that welcomes foreign travelers and immigrants. I believe that can continue, but it should be in a way where our laws are followed, enforced and individuals are thoroughly screened.”
Rep. Pete Aguilar: “I am heartbroken for the family of National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and I continue praying for the recovery of Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe as he fights for his life. Rahmanullah Lakanwal should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for carrying out this horrific attack. The Trump administration vetted Lakanwal as recently as April 2025, and if there were any signs of potential danger, they should have taken action. America has always been a nation of immigrants and has welcomed refugees fleeing dire circumstances, especially our allies. By halting all decisions related to asylum claims, pausing visas for Afghan nationals and adding restrictions on other countries, the Trump administration is avoiding taking accountability and using this tragic shooting to demonize immigrants.”
Rep. Robert Garcia: “As an immigrant and proud American, I know how important it is to reform our immigration process so that we have both secure borders and a system where those seeking asylum, work permits or citizenship are treated fairly and with respect. No one wants criminals in this country, but we should welcome folks who are here to work, uplift our economy and follow our laws. We are a great country that can do both.”
Rep. Young Kim: “The loss of our National Guard members is heartbreaking, and Americans deserve clear answers about what went wrong. We must ensure that anyone admitted into our country is thoroughly vetted. We have seen too many cases where unvetted individuals commit heinous crimes, and we cannot allow that to continue unchecked. Once safeguards are in place, we can continue to welcome those who follow the law, contribute to our communities, and seek refuge from persecution — because that’s what America is about. Strong, lawful immigration that allows the best and brightest to contribute to America is one of our greatest competitive advantages.”Rep. Mike Levin: “My condolences go to the service members and families affected by this horrific tragedy. Violence must never be tolerated. But exploiting this tragedy to push ‘remigration’ policies is wrong and dangerous. ‘Remigration’ is a fringe idea rooted in exclusion, not American values. Immigrant communities have built our economy, defended our nation and shaped the very fabric of who we are. Using this moment to vilify them doesn’t make us safer. It undermines the principles of dignity, equality, and opportunity that define our country. The president’s comments abandon that legacy and move us toward something deeply un-American.”
