Pressley rejects deal, slams ICE as ‘abusive’
U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley joined other young Democratic firebrands to slam ICE as “abusive” in an announcement Thursday rejecting a bipartisan compromise to keep the government open.
Pressley, who represents much of Boston, teamed up with U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib to release a statement reading, “This Administration continues to threaten the dignity and humanity of our immigrant population. The Department of Homeland Security has separated thousands of children from their parents, denied asylum to those fleeing danger, and used taxpayers dollars as a slush fund to incite terror in immigrant communities.”
The statement referred to Homeland agencies Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol as “abusive.” The four freshmen congresswomen added, “By any reasonable measure, Donald Trump’s weaponization of ICE and CBP has been a failure. The Department of Homeland Security does not deserve an increase in funding, and that is why we intend to vote no on this funding package.”
The compromise package includes $1.4 billion for walls along the southern border, down from the $5.7 billion President Trump demanded. Trump indicated he’d sign it, but has vowed to use other means including declaring a national emergency to get the rest of the wall funding.
During Pressley’s congressional campaign, she joined the call to “abolish ICE,” a cry that gained traction on the left. She couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday.
Jessica Vaughan of the Center for Immigration Studies, which opposes illegal immigration, said, “It’s shocking that they would have such low regard for the men and women who work for the Department of Homeland Security and the agencies in it with the goal of protecting our country.”
Vaughan added, “Instead of criticizing the policies, they’re insulting the people who carry out the policies.”