WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) took to X this week to celebrate his granddaughter-in-law Tsehay’s new citizenship:
The post, while intended as a cheerful family announcement, quickly turned into a mass reminder for the Republican base that immigration from certain countries continues to happen in the United States, legally or otherwise.
Almost immediately, conservative commenters who normally demand that immigrants “do it the right way” shifted seamlessly into outrage that “doing it the right way” still counts as unlawful immigration. Replies filled with confusion questioned why anyone from certain countries—even a law-abiding spouse—was allowed to eventually apply for citizenship.
The senator’s mention of Ethiopia added a layer of discomfort. Some conservative voices implied that immigration would be tolerable if it involved “just more Norwegians,” while others expressed concern that welcoming people from Africa might create dangerous precedents like “diversity".
The timing also added irony. Grassley has recently supported stepped-up removals, applauding ICE and DHS for “doing their job” on border enforcement. Yet in the same breath, his personal household is now evidence that the legal immigration process still functions—something his own base appeared to treat as a national scandal.
Comment sections ballooned with angry micro-essays about “chain migration,” “assimilation,” and “losing the country.” Others went so far as to accuse Grassley of betraying conservative principles by allowing his family tree to be “compromised by the federal naturalization ceremony.” The fact that Tsehay followed every legal requirement, passed background checks, and demonstrated knowledge of U.S. history did little to soothe concerns that she still originated from certain countries.
As one Reddit commenter dryly noted, “Republican Chuck Grassley makes a post congratulating his granddaughter-in-law becoming an American citizen, and ends up getting a taste of his own base.” The “taste” in question consisted mostly of anger, suspicion, and a slew of bigotry.
At this time, conservative voters confirmed they remain strongly in favor of “legal immigration” so long as it does not happen in certain countries.
