Over the past year (roughly from January 2025 to mid-January 2026), several Democratic politicians and governors have used strong, critical language toward U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) amid intensified immigration enforcement under the second Trump administration. This rhetoric often compares ICE to historical authoritarian forces (e.g., Gestapo, secret police, or slave patrols), calls for its abolition, or accuses it of terrorizing communities. These statements have been widely reported in news sources and compiled in White House/DHS lists criticizing them as inflammatory. Critics (including Trump administration officials, Republicans, and some media) argue this language "demonizes" ICE agents, potentially inciting violence or assaults against them (with reports of significant increases in such incidents). Supporters of the rhetoric view it as legitimate criticism of aggressive policies, overreach, or lack of accountability.
Here are some of the most cited examples from 2025 (primarily spring through fall, with echoes into early 2026):
Comparisons to Nazi-Era or Authoritarian Forces
- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (May 2025, during a law school commencement speech): Referred to ICE agents as "Trump’s modern-day Gestapo" that is "scooping folks up off the streets." This drew strong backlash from DHS, which called it "sickening" and linked it to rising assaults on officers.
- Rep. John Larson (D-CT): Called ICE "the SS" and "the Gestapo," shouting in a video: "This is not Germany. That’s the SS and the Gestapo. This is the United States of America – unmask yourselves."
- Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL): Described ICE actions as "Gestapo tactics" and a "betrayal of the values we swear to uphold."
- Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker: Claimed ICE raids were turning the country into "Nazi Germany," comparing them to Adolf Hitler rounding up minorities.
- Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA): Smeared ICE agents as "the Gestapo" and "nondescript thugs."
- Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN): Called ICE agents "vile and beyond cruel," described the agency as "state violence," and stated that "abolishing ICE is not enough."
- Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX): Compared ICE agents to "slave patrols."
- Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI): Said ICE is "terrorizing our communities" and "turning our country into a fascist police state," calling it a "rogue agency" that should be abolished.
- Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and others: Referred to ICE as a "terrorist organization" in some contexts.
- Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT, caucuses with Democrats): Urged people to "stop ICE from what they are doing as soon as possible" and "figure out a way" to halt operations.
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC, D-NY): Reiterated that ICE "should not exist," called it an "anti-civilian force" with "no accountability," and warned of an "explosion" in ICE power making current actions "look like child’s play." She has long supported abolishing ICE.
- Various mayors/governors (e.g., Chicago's Brandon Johnson, Boston's Michelle Wu): Accused ICE of "terrorizing communities" with "secret police" tactics and called for resistance or expulsion from cities.
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