18 Civil Rights Organizations Condemn Brandon Judd Testifying to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Brandon Judd, the President of the National Border Patrol Council who frequently promotes white nationalist conspiracy theories, uses bigoted rhetoric against migrants, and engages with anti-immigrant groups, has been invited by House Republicans to testify in front of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
Judd has a history of associations with bigoted extremist groups, including SPLC-designated anti-immigrant hate groups the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), and the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS). He utilizes his platform to amplify misinformation, including false allegations that Democratic officials are intentionally allowing migrant influxes, most recently in a Newsmax interview after the 2023 State of the Union Address. He frequently promotes the racist and antisemitic “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory and “Invasion” rhetoric.
In response to the committee’s invitation to Judd, 18 pro-democracy organizations issued a statement expressing their deep concerns, including Western States Center, Communities United for Status and Protection, Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, America’s Voice, United We Dream, Southern Poverty Law Center, African Communities Together, National Network for Arab American Communities, Southern Border Communities Coalition, Lawyers for Good Government, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Bridges Faith Initiative, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, Alianza Americas and Presente.org, UndocuBlack Network, Central American Resource Center of Northern California, Haitian Bridge Alliance, Human Rights First, and Center for Gender and Refugee Studies.
“Our elected representatives do a great disservice to our democracy and our national discourse when instead of credentialed experts, they invite bigoted conspiracy theorists to testify before the House of Representatives. House Republicans are not only amplifying white nationalist conspiracies, but are validating them by giving individuals like Brandon Judd a Congressional platform. This continued use of bigoted extremist witnesses seeks to normalize anti-immigrant rhetoric and white nationalist associations to the detriment of our country.
“We urgently need a national debate and innovative solutions to the problems that plague our immigration system. We need to uplift constructive, informed, and ethical voices in our nation’s highest public offices. Inviting Judd undercuts the opportunity for these hearings to move our country forward, and exposes these hearings as opportunities to smear vulnerable immigrants rather than advance serious solutions. Civil society groups, business leaders, and our elected representatives have a responsibility to challenge the invitation and testimony of Judd to Congress, and need to stand united against dangerous rhetoric that so often inspires political violence.”
To request an interview with an expert from Western States Center or any other signatory, please contact press@wscpdx.org.