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TX State Sen. Interrupts Immigrant's Testimony: 'Why Aren't You Speaking in English?
June 17, 2011
"It is insulting to us."
If you are giving testimony in front of Texas State Senator Chris Harris, he'd prefer you speak English.
During a Senate hearing on Monday, Antolin Aguirre of the Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition was testifying against Senate Bill 9, a law that would crack down on illegal immigrants in Texas. But instead of giving testimony in English, he decided to give it in Spanish and speak through an interpreter.
Harris wasn't having any of that. KTRH-RADIO explains:
Two minutes into Antolin Aguirre’s testimony, Sen. Chris Harris, a Republican from Arlington, interrupted asking Aguirre’s interrupter, "Did I understand him correctly that he has been here since 1988?" Harris asked. "Why aren’t you speaking in English then?"Through his interpreter, Aguirre said Spanish is his "first language and since it is his first time giving testimony he would rather do it in Spanish."
"It is insulting to us," Sen. Harris fired back. "It is very insulting. And if he knows English, he needs to be speaking in English."
You can watch the fireworks below:
The bill, which would allow police officers to check a suspect's immigration status, eventually passed the Senate and will now go before the House.
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Jonathon M. Seidl is a former managing editor of Blaze News and a best-selling author and speaker. His next book, “Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic,” will be released on October 7, 2025.
Jonathon M. Seidl
Jonathon M. Seidl is a former managing editor of Blaze News and a best-selling author and speaker. His next book, “Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic,” will be released on October 7, 2025.
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