Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Tom Homan said his agency does not arrest law-abiding people, after it was revealed ICE officers have been arresting individuals who have allegedly breached U.S. immigration laws in California.
“We don’t arrest innocent people,” Homan told reporters Monday evening.
The comments were made in response to House Minority Leader Nancy, D-Calif., who has slammed the raids as “intended solely to terrorize innocent immigrant families and instill fear in the hearts of our communities” rather than protect Americans.
Homan said Pelosi’s comments were “beyond the pale” and argued the people ICE arrested are the ones who terrorize immigrant communities.
Additionally, administration officials pushed back on claims concerning “sanctuary cities,” where policies passed by local governments instruct law enforcement to not turn over illegal immigrants to federal officials without a warrant. Administration officials told reporters Monday evening sanctuary cities harm public safety and argued sanctuary cities specifically harm immigrant communities because they allow criminals to be released back into their communities.
“This is an area where there should be broad bipartisan consensus,” an administration official said.
Homan also reiterated ICE is enforcing U.S. law and said if Pelosi and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., do not support the current laws, they should change them.
The comments come after more than 150 people suspected of violating federal immigration laws were arrested by ICE late last month. Those arrested now are facing prosecution or deportation, Homan said last week.
Additionally, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit last week in a Sacramento federal court that argues three California laws passed last year undermine federal immigration law. The Trump administration supports nullifying the laws.
