Democrat Rep. Mark Pocan, who introduced a bill to abolish Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), dodged the question on Tuesday when Fox News host and Daily Caller co-founder Tucker Carlson asked whether illegal immigrants guilty of DUIs should be subject to deportation.
Carlson said, “Let’s talk about that. You introduced a bill to get rid of ICE — even people who are concerned about it — I get it. Abolishing ICE seems radical and crazy, as you know, which is why a lot of Democrats are embarrassed of this decision. What would you do about illegals who get busted for DUI? There’s no ICE — do they get to stay? What happens, specifically?”
Pocan deflected immediately, saying, “Here’s the problem: ICE was created after 9/11 for domestic terrorism and major crimes. Right now, it sits sometimes in the parking lot in Beloit, Wisconsin. That’s not going after domestic terrorism; it’s being misused by the president. But the bottom line is, what we should take up tomorrow is a measure to guarantee those kids are returned to those parents. Remember, the president made this decree without any thought whatsoever, I’ve been down to the border, I’ve been down to the detention facilities …”
Carlson attempted several times to bring the conversation back around, asking again, “Very quick, can we deport people busted for DUI if they’re here illegally?”
Pocan steadfastly refused to answer the question, instead claiming that the president was using old crimes to justify deporting more people.
“Tucker Carlson Tonight” producer Alex Pfeiffer noted Pocan’s evasion, tweeting that more journalists should be asking similar questions.
Rep. Mark Pocan, who introduced legislation to abolish ICE, didn’t answer “yes” when asked tonight if illegal immigrants arrested for DUI should be deported.
— Alex Pfeiffer (@PfeifferDC) July 18, 2018
He just dodged. Embarrassing no other journalists have asked this of the abolish ICE crowd.
— Alex Pfeiffer (@PfeifferDC) July 18, 2018
Pocan was not the first to run into trouble with a similar line of questioning. In 2017, CNN’s Jake Tapper pressed New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on the same topic — and de Blasio admitted that some DUIs would be considered the type of “minor crime” that would qualify illegal immigrants for protection under his city’s sanctuary policies.