ICE Deputy Director Blames ‘Dangerous Rhetoric’ from Democrats After Protests at Manhattan ICE Facility

FAULKNER: “— have intensified this morning outside of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility in Chicago, Illinois. Authorities were forced to use non-lethal munitions to push back rioters. This looks familiar. It’s similar to the scene that played out at an ICE facility in New York City just yesterday.”

[Clip starts]

UNKNOWN: “I am here to ensure that we protect all our fellow constituents. It is not illegal to be undocumented.”

POLICEMAN: “Let’s go.”

PROTESTERS (singing): “We shall not be moved.”

PROTESTERS: “(chant in Spanish)”

POLICEMAN: “You impede, you’ll be under arrest!”

[Clip ends]

FAULKNER: “Well, all of this landed 11 Democrat officials in jail. They reportedly tried to force their way into offices and cells holding violent illegal immigrants. Homeland Security says 71 others, including two state senators and 9 state assembly members, were arrested outside of protest — outside the protest facility. Madison Sheahan, ICE deputy director, is with me now. You know, Deputy Director, when you look at this, this is actually a lot more calm than it was outside the one here in Newark, New Jersey. I mean, that one got really rowdy and ICE agents were pressed upon physically. Lawmakers, again, had, you know, one of them arrested, so on and so forth. Why does this keep happening? What are you looking at at the department?”

SHEAHAN: “Well, look, I think this keeps happening because of the dangerous rhetoric that the Democrats continue to push against our law enforcement officers who are enforcing immigration law. Our officers go out every day, choose to put the American people first with the support of President Trump and Secretary Noem. These protests are not going to stop us, but I think everyone needs to know that the people these Democrats are defending are murderers, rapists, MS-13 gang members and the list goes on and on and on. These are not people that you and I want in our communities. These are people that we need to remove from this country and we’re doing just that thanks to President Trump and Secretary Noem.”

FAULKNER: “You know, I’m sure people watching this might have the same question. And that is, how did they get this far? Like, this is outside the facility. And I know that there were some arrests made outside, which is what we saw, you know, in Newark, New Jersey, months ago when that got out of, completely out of hand. But they’re interior at this point and reportedly were trying to break into the cells of some of those illegal immigrants who are criminals being held.”

SHEAHAN: “Absolutely. Well, our facilities are public facilities. They’re federal buildings oftentimes that hold offices of other public officials, as well as other federal entities. And so, they’re allowed to go in so far into our buildings. Where the harm comes into play is when they’re putting our officers in danger and even putting the detainees in danger that they so want to protect throughout this process. And so, what we want to make sure of is that we can get this rhetoric down, put our officers first, and allow them to be safe and doing their job even when we continue to see these protests nationwide.”