Jeffries denounces DHS ‘hit list’ of Democrats following ICE officer attacks
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Friday that Democrats are being wrongly targeted by a Department of Homeland Security “hit list” following attacks against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
“The Department of Homeland Security put out a hit list directed at Democratic members of Congress, Democratic governors and Democratic officials,” said Mr. Jeffries, New York Democrat, during a news conference. “It’s a hit list saying to crazies all across the country, target these people.”
“And so, no, we’re not going to be lectured by the Department of Homeland Security,” said Mr. Jeffries, who rejected Republicans’ and the administration’s call for Democrats to lower the temperature of their party’s rhetoric against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
“Take your hit list down. That’s what they need. We are very clear,” he said. “Attacks against anyone of any political persuasion for any reason, and certainly attacks against law enforcement is unacceptable and attacks against immigrant communities is unacceptable.”
The list of Democratic officials Mr. Jeffries was referencing came from a Sept. 17 DHS press release calling for the media and the “far left” to “stop the demonization of President Trump, his supporters and DHS law enforcement.”
It listed Democrats who used terms including “Nazis,” “slave patrols,” “deranged,” “Gestapo,” “secret police,” “KGB,” “vigilantes” and “thugs” when describing ICE agents.
Democrats who were listed making these comparisons and comments included Mr. Jeffries and Reps. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Dan Goldman of New York, Eric Swalwell of California, John Larsen of Connecticut, Becca Balint of Vermont and Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts.
Other Democrats mentioned by DHS who made similar comments were Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Cudahy, California, Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez called for criminal gangs in southeast Los Angeles County — including the 18th Street gang — to commit violence against ICE law enforcement, DHS noted, which triggered an FBI investigation.
Republicans are blaming Democrats for inciting a series of attacks against ICE officers, including Wednesday when a sniper fired indiscriminately at the Dallas ICE facility and shot three detainees, ultimately killing one.
Officials said the suspect, Joshua Jahn, was dead nearby from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. They later found bullets with “anti-ICE” etched on the casing and a handwritten note that read: “Hopefully this will give ICE agents real terror, to think, ’is there a sniper with AP rounds on that roof?’”
Vice President J.D. Vance called Wednesday’s shooting a politically motivated act of violence and urged Democratic leaders to tone down what he described as incendiary rhetoric surrounding the administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
“We know this person was politically motivated,” Mr. Vance said. “Motivated to go after law enforcement. Motivated to target those enforcing our border.”
He said, “It’s time to end the rhetorical assault on law enforcement.”
While acknowledging that “crazy people” exist on both sides of the political spectrum, Mr. Vance said the recent wave of violence is overwhelmingly driven by the left.
“This is not a ’both sides’ problem,” he said. “It’s primarily coming from one side of the aisle. If we’re serious about ending political violence, Democratic leaders in Washington need to look in the mirror and renounce it — completely.”
