Acting ICE Director Ronald Vitiello and Secretary Kristjen Nielsen responded to the numerous calls from Democratic lawmakers to abolish ICE during their appearance on Fox News’ “The Story With Martha MacCallum” Thursday night.
CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 16: Demonstrators march through downtown calling for the abolition of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on August 16, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The demonstrators were also calling for defunding local police. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Their interview took place at the U.S.-Mexico border, where MacCallum hosted her show for the day. They also discussed the migrant caravan that’s headed toward the United States. (RELATED: Bangladeshis Joined Migrant Caravan In Guatemala, Univision Correspondent Reports)
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McCallum asked, “Ron … some candidates on the campaign trail [are] saying they wanted to banish ICE. They think you guys are brutal — that you’re insensitive to the needs of these families. What do you say about that?” MacCallum asked.
Vitiello responded with:
I say they don’t understand there are 20,000 public servants out there that are getting up each and every day to try to protect this country and that’s what we do at ICE. We investigate transnational criminal organizations, we take down the money [and] the dark web investigations. That’s what the folks at ICE do. It’s a necessary element of what the Department brings to the overall safety and security of the country.
Nielsen then added, “Child exploitation, cyber crimes — that’s what they fight. Protecting our communities — that’s what they fight. Helping state organizations with investigations — that’s what ICE Does. It’s completely irresponsible and dangerous for anyone to suggest anything differently about ICE.”
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 09: Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen speaks at The Association Of The U.S. Army Annual Meeting on October 9, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
Many Democratic lawmakers such as Sen. Dick Durbin and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand called for ICE to be abolished in recent months.
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