Ex-ICE director explodes at Dem Rep: 'No one in this room has seen what I've seen'

Tom Homan, former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, unloaded on Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (D-Ill.), who exploited children in an attempt to score political points during a contentious House Oversight Committee hearing on Friday.

When it was Garcia's turn to question Homan, he launched a half-dozen politically charged questions at the career-ICE official. He said:

Mr Homan, do you understand that the consequences of separation of many children will be lifelong trauma and carried across generations? Have we not learned from the interment of Japanese Americans? Mr. Homan, I'm a father. Do you have children? How can you possibly allow this to happen under your watch? Do you not care? Is it because these children don't look like children that are around you? I don't get it. Have you ever held a deceased child in your arms?

"First of all, your comments are disgusting," Homan responded as Garcia attempted to interrupt.

"I've served my country for 34 years. This is out of control," continued. "Yes, I held a 5-year-old boy in my arms that was in the back of a tractor-trailer and knelt down beside him and said a prayer for him because I knew what the last 30 minutes of his life were like and I had a 5-year-old son at the time."

"What I've been doing in my 34 years serving my nation is to save lives. So for you to sit there and insult my integrity and my love of my country and for children...that's why this whole thing needs to be fixed — and you're the member of Congress! Fix it!" Homan went on to say.

It was at that point that Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) attempted to restore order. After Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) defended Homan from Garcia's attacks, Cummings allowed Homan to continue speaking.

"No one in this room has seen what I've seen in my 34-year career. No one has experienced what I have experienced. I saw many dead bodies come across this border," Homan said.

"If you want to legalize illegal immigration, good luck with that because it's going to get a hell of a lot worse at that border if you say we'll create — 'From now on, there will be no consequence, no deterrence. It's not illegal to come to this country illegally.' More people will come, 31 percent more women will be raped, more children will die," Homan warned. "We are a nation of laws. If you don't like it, sir, change it, you're the legislator, I'm the executive branch."

"I've served my country honorably for 34 years, and I will not sit here and have anybody say that I don't care about children because you're not the same color as my children," Homan concluded.

Watch the full exchange below:

Former ICE Director Slams Democrat Rep: 'Your comments are disgusting'www.youtube.com