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Wednesday, Apr 17, 2013 4:49 PM UTC

Gohmert: “Radical Islamists” are “trained to act Hispanic”

The Texas Congressman warned against immigration reform in the wake of the attacks in Boston

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Topics: Louie Gohmert, Immigration, Boston Explosions, House Republicans, Texas, Islamophobia,

Gohmert: (Credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Louie Gohmert joined Steve King in warning against passing immigration reform too hastily in the wake the of attacks in Boston, saying that he’s worried that “radical Islamists” could pose as Hispanics and do “copycat things.”

Speaking on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal, Gohmert, R-Texas, said: “We know Al Qaeda has camps over with the drug cartels on the other side of the Mexican border. We know that people are now being trained to come in and act like Hispanic [sic] when they are radical Islamists. We know these things are happening. It is just insane not to protect ourselves, and make sure that people come in as most people do … They want the freedoms we have.”

Gohmert, previously seen arguing against gun control because gay marriage leads to bestiality (or something), is not the first to float this theory about the Al Qaeda-drug cartel connection. It was a favorite of former Rep. Sue Myrick, who repeatedly claimed that Hezbollah is trying to infiltrate the United States by “going to Venezuela, learning Spanish, and then coming up through Mexico with fake documents trying to cross the border.”

Steve King and Rick Santorum have also touted this theory.

 

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com. More Jillian Rayfield.

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