Texas Democrat Compares ICE to Slave Patrols Amid Surge in Attacks

During an appearance on the “Breakfast Club” on Friday, Texas Democrat Jasmine Crockett drew a comparison between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and “slave patrols.” She made this statement as reports indicated a dramatic 1000% rise in assaults on ICE agents while they carry out their duties, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Crockett, discussing the implications of ICE’s actions, argued that a better understanding of black history would lead many to see the similarities with historical slave patrols. “They see that they are unleashing this illicit police force,” she stated, reflecting on the methods used by ICE.

“It sounds like a slave patrol,” she went on to assert. “Yes, that’s where modern policing has its roots. So, we definitely need to teach history,” she added.

In a related development, the Supreme Court recently granted the Trump administration’s request to eliminate restrictions that were previously imposed concerning certain immigration enforcement practices in Los Angeles. This request aimed to stop a lower court’s ruling that limited racial profiling and focused criteria for immigration enforcement.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, along with Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, expressed disagreement with this move, emphasizing that government actions shouldn’t hinge on the appearance or language of individuals. Sotomayor said, “I disagree, as our constitutional freedoms are at risk here.”

Currently, ICE conducts immigration enforcement operations specifically in Massachusetts and Chicago, while the Trump administration has previously had success in addressing large-scale irregular immigration in places like Los Angeles.

Crockett has also been vocal about how she perceives the responsibilities of those in power. She cited a tragic case involving Kayla Hamilton, an autistic woman killed by undocumented immigrants, remarking that dismissing such cases as “randomly dead” is unhelpful. This came during discussions about the Kayla Hamilton Act, aimed at regulating the treatment of unaccompanied alien children.

“Stop playing these games and pretending to care about specific situations,” Crockett said, highlighting what she sees as manipulation in these discussions surrounding immigration and crime.