Grand Rapids Reporter

Paul Hudson, a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives against incumbent Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.), issued an official statement about Scholten's stance on border security measures. Hudson said Scholten is prioritizing the obstruction of these measures over addressing the immigration crisis, referencing her voting record and perceived inaction in Congress. Hudson is challenging Scholten for Michigan's 3rd Congressional seat.

"The result of her actions over the past year have been nothing short of a catastrophe, with literally millions more illegal crossings overwhelming the system and causing a humanitarian and national-security crisis," said Hudson.

In his statement, Hudson claimed that Scholten had remained silent on the issue of border security until now. He pointed out a discrepancy between her rhetoric and actions regarding this matter. "Scholten's failure to effectively address this issue, through legislative measures, is evident in her voting record," said Hudson. He specifically mentioned her opposition to H.R. 2, a bill aimed at strengthening border security, and the POLICE Act, which he described as legislation "which made assault of a law enforcement officer a deportable offense to non-US nationals."

Hudson also drew attention to Scholten's alignment with Democrats: "Since arriving in Congress, she has voted with Democrats 96% of the time," he said. According to him, this rate is significantly higher than average and even surpasses left-wing progressives like AOC and Rashida Tlaib. Hudson further criticized Scholten for failing to engage meaningfully in bipartisan efforts to address the border crisis.

A recent report by Legal Newsline revealed some concerning practices at the Michigan Immigration Rights Center where Rep. Scholten previously worked. The report included a conversation with an operator at the center named Hector who assured a caller that falsifying identity details when pursuing legal claims against employers was inconsequential. "I don't believe that in the grand scheme of things, it's not that big of a deal," Hector said during a phone call on Dec. 13th. He added that the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center frequently assists undocumented immigrants with their legal claims.

In May, Scholten released a statement explaining her opposition to H.R. 2, which she referred to as "counterproductive legislation." She argued for a more balanced approach: "we need to create a commonsense plan that protects our borders, strengthens our workforce, provides sufficient pathways to citizenship, and addresses the root causes of migration."

According to his campaign website, Hudson is a native of West Michigan with degrees from Cornell University and Georgetown Law. He currently holds a senior partner position at Miller Canfield and has previously been nominated to serve on the Michigan Supreme Court.