An orderly immigration system is rooted in the commonsense idea that a people, through the law, can determine who enters or stays and who doesn’t, and that the government ought to enforce those laws. To Sen. Kamala Harris, that idea is racist. The California Democrat just compared Immigration and Customs Enforcement to the Ku Klux Klan.
The comparison came during cross examination of Ronald Vitiello, the nominee to head ICE. Harris wondered aloud whether Vitiello agreed that ICE was creating anxiety and fear in the same way that the Klan had terrorized African-Americans.
As Anna Giaritelli of the Washington Examiner reports:
Vitiello interjected before Harris could name ICE and the KKK: “I do not see any parallels.”
“That puts ICE in the same category as the KKK. Is that what you’re asking me?” he said.
“No, I’m very specific in what I’m asking you. Are you aware of a perception that they way that they …” Harris said.
“I see none,” Vitiello said.
And that is because there is no comparisons to be made. In case Harris hasn’t noticed, ICE agents wear uniforms, follow the law, and carry out their duties in broad daylight. They do not, contrary to the senator’s dark imagination, threaten to rape, lynch, or firebomb black people.
It was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who first made calls to abolish ICE fashionable. Once that New York Democrat defeated incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley in the primary, progressives everywhere started echoing the trendy talking point. And while that was stupid (immigration would have been turned over to then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions, no pushover on the issue), it wasn’t as irresponsible as the way Harris just demonized law enforcement.
If Harris wants to be president, or even just a decent human being, she should apologize. The country doesn’t share her views on ICE, and voters outside of California will see attempts to weaken the agency as attempts to undermine the security of the country.
Harris could learn from her newest Democratic colleague from Arizona. Soon to be sworn in Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is no immigration hawk. At the same time, Sinema supports beefing up border security and has voted in favor of House resolutions backing a beleaguered ICE agency. She is making an honest effort to fix the problem. Harris, however, seems more concerned with winning cheap partisan points. It will be to her own political detriment.
