Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX) Discusses Supreme Court Hearing DACA Case, Strong Case Of Bribery Against Trump In Impeachment Probe; Violence Spirals After Killing Of Top Palestinian Islamic Jihad Leader.
KEILAR: Just moments ago, an emotional scene outside of the Supreme Court.</s>KEILAR: The crowd chanting, "Home is here," as DACA defenders emerged from the highly charged hearing on the Obama-era program protecting undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. This hearing is the culmination of more than two years of legal battles and protests. At issue, the Trump administration's decision to end protections for more than 700,000 of these DREAMers as they're known. We have Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, a Democrat from Texas, and a supporter of DACA, joining us now. She's also on the House Judiciary Committee. Thank you for joining us.</s>REP. SYLVIA GARCIA (D-TX): Thank you for having me.</s>KEILAR: These lower courts have allowed DACA renewals to continue while this legal process plays out. What's at stake here?</s>GARCIA: There's a lot at stake. Primarily, the lives of the 800,000- plus DREAMers, and then many more that are DACA eligible but not applied. It's their lives, their families. And the question whether or not they get to stay here, which is a place they consider home. The only place that many of them have ever known is the United States of America. In their heart in their mind, in their soul, they are Americans.</s>KEILAR: You must have considered the possibility of, if you're not successful here. If supporters of DACA lose this decision, what then?</s>GARCIA: Well, we'll continue the fight. You know, we've already passed a DREAMer Promise Act in the Congress. We did that in the House about six months ago. We'll continue to try to push the Senate to also pass it. And then go from there. If that fails, we'll also continue to negotiate, we'll continue to march, we'll continue to put the pressure on. Because, again, this is home to this 800,000-plus DREAMers. They're Americans. They're here to stay and we will help them to be able to stay.</s>KEILAR: The president tweeted out this morning, it was an insult about DACA recipients. He said that, "Many are far from angels." He said some are "tough, hardened criminals." It's important to fact-check that because DACA recipients go through background checks. Felons and folks who commit significant misdemeanors, those kinds of offenders are prohibited form the program. But earlier on in this administration, President Trump said the DACA recipients would be treated with heart. What do you make of that tweet today?</s>GARCIA: It's not surprising. The president will say one thing -- and he did promise he would look at DACA and keep it. Because, of course, millions of Americans agreed with that. I mean, poll after poll, over 80 percent of Americans want protections for these DREAMers. So the president doesn't surprise me anymore. It's always misinformation. It's lies. It's always something to try to defend his position. But in this case, he's just dead wrong. DREAMers are workers. They're teachers. They're veterans. They're your neighbor. They're the person who sits next to you at church. They're contributing to society. I don't know what number he's looking at, but it is the wrong number.</s>KEILAR: I want to ask you, while I have you here, about something else. That your fellow congresswoman, Jackie Speier, among others, says there's a strong case of bribery against the president in this impeachment investigation. Do you think Democrats should use that kind of language, bribery and extortion, in impeachment hearings instead of quid pro quo? And should they have used that sooner? One legal expert was on that said it's more effective but doesn't know why Democrats waited this long to use it.</s>GARCIA: For us in Judiciary, we're waiting to get the report and any recommendation that that committee or any of the other five committees and jurisdictions would send to us. I'm going to wait and pass judgment once I see it. I do expect a referral. Be let's be clear. What the president did is not following the rule of law. It goes against our Democratic rule of law. It is an abuse of power. And it really puts our national security at risk. So I think all that, if it adds up to be an extortion we'll find, that's what we'll pursue. If it ends up being just an abuse of power and just not following the rule of law, well, we'll take that road. So I think we need to wait before we make any final judgment.</s>KEILAR: And just quickly before you go, what's the goal here? What should the goal be for Democrats as these hearings begin?</s>GARCIA: Well, I think the goal will be, number one, to make sure that they're open and that the public can hear and see for themselves just exactly what transpired, to see that there are facts that can be established, that the affidavit is being cooperated , and we can reach some conclusion. Because right now, I think there's still some concern from some Americans about where this is going. Now they'll be able to see for themselves. So, again, it's about making sure we protect our democracy, that we stop this abuse of power, and we protect our national security.</s>KEILAR: Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, thank you so much.</s>GARCIA: Thank you.</s>KEILAR: Tensions erupting today along Israel's border with Gaza. Violence starting after a senior Islamic jihad leader was killed in an airstrike this morning. Palestinian officials say seven people were killed in the attack. Gaza militants responded by firing almost 200 rockets towards Israel. As you can see in these pictures. CNN's Oren Liebermann is live in Israel. And, Oren, Israelis have said -- have they said what prompted the airstrike in the first place?</s>OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This all begins about 4:00 this morning, Brooke (sic), when Israelis carried out a targeted killing, an assassination of senior Islamic jihad leader, Baha Abu al Ata. Israel considered him a ticking time bomb, someone who was planning and carrying out attacks against Israel in the coming days. They also say he was responsible for a number of rockets fired into Israel over the course of the past few months. That's why they say they decided to act in this case. Following that, Islamic Jihadists fired off some 200 rockets during the course of the day and now into the evening, prompting an Israeli response. What's interesting is Israel has gone out of its way to point its finger at Islamic jihad, saying it's Islamic jihad that's fired the rockets. And Israel strikes in Gaza seen throughout the day target specifically Islamic jihad positions. You pointed out, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, there have been seven killed in Gaza as well as a number of injuries on both sides of the border as well as the damage that comes from the airstrikes and rockets. Where does it go from here? This is a crucial question in determining what happens over the next few hours and days. A lot depends on Hamas, the militant group that runs Gaza. That's what Israel and the region are waiting to see. If Hamas decides not to fire rockets and decides not to get involved in the fighting, there's a chance it de-escalates. Brianna, if they get involved, it could escalate and, at that point, who knows where this goes.</s>KEILAR: Oren, thank you very much for following this story. That's it for me. "NEWSROOM" with Brooke Baldwin starts right now.