Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar called for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to be abolished Thursday, following President Donald Trump’s immigration reform proposal, which was unveiled earlier in the day.
“Today the president has unveiled an immigration plan that makes no mention of DACA, a program Trump unilaterally ended in late 2017, that has been hanging by a thread, thanks to court injunctions,” Omar stated. “A plan that fails to make sure people with temporary protection status and deferred enforced departure recipients don’t have a path to a permanent status or citizenship. A plan that seeks to limit asylum seekers fleeing violence.”
I saw Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) speak on immigration today. The line that got the most applause? “Abolish ICE.” Repeatedly during her speech, she talked about the supposed criminalization of immigration. @capitalresearch pic.twitter.com/PukUyK61GM
— Ashley Rae Goldenberg (@Communism_Kills) May 16, 2019
“Make no mistake, this plan would have a devastating effect on millions of people around the world who, like me, had plans of coming to this land of opportunity,” she continued. “Our nation is, and has always been, a beacon of hope for the world. We should be welcoming immigrants into our country and providing them a simple and accessible path to becoming documented, not treating them like criminals or dehumanizing them by calling them animals.” (RELATED: WH Immigration Plan Will Focus On Border Security And Merit-Based Immigration)
Omar’s reference of calling immigrants “animals” is an apparent jab at Trump. Back at an event in May 2018, the president was clearly referring to members of the MS-13 gang as “animals,” but the comment was misconstrued by the liberal media to suggest that Trump referred to all immigrants in that way.
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 16: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a Rose Garden event on immigration at the White House May 16, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
“We need to abolish ICE, and end all inhumane deportation and detention programs,” she continued, “We need to fight back against the criminalization of immigrants and those crossing the border.”
Trump’s plan to secure the border calls for infrastructure at 33 specific locations, an updating of entry ports and expedited immigration court proceedings and removing processes. The administration also hopes to change the visa system to reward highly-skilled immigrants.
Trump’s immigration plan also does not include any solutions to the DACA system, which likely means the legislation will be dead on arrival for the House Democrats. Omar was also critical of the lack of planning for DACA.