Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) has once again attracted national attention following controversial comments related to race and immigration. The latest remarks came during an appearance at Grace Baptist Church in Waterbury, Connecticut, where she spoke as part of the church’s 125th anniversary celebration on Sunday.
In a clip from the event that quickly spread on X (formerly Twitter), Crockett addressed the role of immigrants in the U.S. economy. “So I had to go about the country and educate people about what immigrants do for this country, or the fact that we are a country of immigrants,” she said, drawing vocal support from the crowd. She continued, “The fact is, ain’t none of y’all trying to go and farm right now,” which was met with murmurs and laughter. Crockett then asked the audience to raise their hands if they were farmers. “You’re not! You’re not! We done picking cotton! We are! You can’t pay us enough to find a plantation,” she added, to which the audience again reacted audibly.
This isn’t the first time Crockett has sparked headlines. Last month, she participated in a virtual protest called the “24-Hour State of the People Marathon,” held the same day as former President Donald Trump’s speech before Congress. During the livestream, she claimed Republicans are targeting illegal immigration in order to push Black Americans “back to the fields.”
Shortly after that appearance, she joined MSNBC and made a statement that drew significant backlash. “It is not a criminal violation to enter the country illegally… It’s not a crime,” she said. However, viewers on X pointed out that entering the U.S. unlawfully can carry both civil and criminal penalties under federal law, citing 8 U.S.C. § 1325. Community Notes quickly added that legal context to clips of her comments.
Rep. Crockett has also faced criticism for other statements, including those made about Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who has used a wheelchair for decades. During a conversation on Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast, host Chris Cuomo discussed the lack of backlash against Crockett, speculating that her identity might be a factor. “Because it’s a Black woman who’s doing it, they’re not gonna cancel her,” Cuomo said.
Crockett has also spoken openly about how race has shaped her professional journey. In a recent House hearing, she shared that she was hired as a public defender without any prior experience in criminal defense, telling her future boss it was “because I’m Black.”
In response to her various controversial remarks, Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) recently filed a resolution calling for Crockett to be formally censured. The resolution refers not only to her comments about Governor Abbott but also likely includes remarks made during a previous committee clash with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).
Meanwhile, supporters of former President Trump continue to claim that illegal immigration significantly declined during his administration. They argue that strong executive leadership—not new laws—was the key to securing the border and reducing unauthorized entries.