Immigration Threat Quotes
This quotation became a very polarizing stimulus in the country with anti-immigration people using it in support of their program to restrict immigration and with liberals and Hispanic groups who saw the quotation as a discriminatory unfounded charge.
At the time many Protestant evangelicals viewed Catholics as subversive to the American way of life because of their allegiance to the Pope and parts of Catholic Theology. The Christian Evangelicals in America have been split on their views of immigration. See {632914} for an example of a contrary position.
Members of Congress have always been allowed to say anything on the floor of Congress regardless of its accuracy and truth, even stating an absurdity. This particular absurd rumor started in Texas and was repeated in the Texas statehouse and then picked up by one of the most gullible members of Congress and this urban legend then gets its 10 minutes of exposure. When Gohmert was told by journalists that the FBI had stated that there is no such activity that they know about, the Congressman observed that was because they were not thoroughly investigating it.