Congressman Scott DesJarlais on Tuesday defended his answer to a young girl on whether her father, an illegal immigant, should be deported.
He said, “I felt I owed Ms. Molina an honest answer to her question. We are a nation of laws and breaking those laws have consequences. While this country has always had a generous immigration policy, we simply cannot condone individuals coming here illegally.
As a member of Congress, I strongly believe I have a responsibility to be truthful, even if that means delivering difficult news.”
A YouTube video of the exchange at a Rutherford County town hall meeting has gone viral.
The question was asked by 11-year-old Josie Molina, who said she was worried about her father, Milton Molina.
An immigrant from El Salvador, he has been going through deportation proceedings for several months.