After House Democrats brought immigrant children to the chamber's floor in protest of the Trump administration's controversial family separation policy, the Republican presiding over the day's hearings blasted them for a "breach of decorum" — and called for recess.
The House Hispanic Caucus brought the children to the floor in an effort to end the policy that the White House claims only Congress can fix, and in her statement, Caucus Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) said she and her colleagues traveled to the US-Mexico border to witness firsthand the families being "terrorized by the most anti-immigrant, xenophobic and racist administration" of her lifetime.
"I'm here with two children today to call on this administration to stop this cruel, inhumane practice that betrays who we are as a country," Grisham said. "The president could make the decision to end this practice right now and do the right thing. Failing that, Congress must act."
She gave the rest of her time to Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), who gave an impassioned speech about the ordeals and struggles the children had gone through and the policies of President Donald Trump.
"It is about the president of the United States who has chosen to take this democracy to its very bottom," Jaypal said. "This is the bottom. This is abuse. It is a human rights violation, and we must end it. He must end it."
She yielded her time to Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL), who gave a similar speech — only to be interrupted by Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), who was presiding over the floor.
"The gentlemen's time has expired," Cheney said, cutting off Gutiérrez as he continued discussing the children.
"The gentleman is no longer recognized," she said before invoking a rule that allows the presiding chairperson to shut down members of Congress who exhibit a "breach of decorum." She then banged her gavel and called for a recess.
Watch below, via CSPAN: