Marsha Blackburn, TN
Linked statement
“A man attacked a federal building in New York because he hates ICE, injuring four people. I blame Democrats for this violence because they constantly attack and insult ICE officers. Republicans will continue to fund and support ICE to keep our country safe.”
“Mr. President, on Monday, we saw yet another example of what has become disturbingly common, and that is an act of far-left terrorism. Outside the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, a man poured gasoline on the entrance, set it ablaze, and tossed fireworks into the raging flames. Thankfully, law enforcement responded swiftly to apprehend the suspect, who was armed with two axes, a hammer, a machete, and three knives, but not before he injured four innocent people. Authorities believe the attack was motivated by the suspect’s hatred of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Federal building he targeted is home to New York’s ICE field office and other Department of Homeland Security offices. Before the attack, he allegedly pushed a cart with a sign reading ``ICE Off Our Streets’’ and made anti-ICE statements. This attack did not come out of nowhere. It follows a monthslong campaign by Democrats to demonize ICE and our brave Federal law enforcement officers who are simply doing their job. They have likened them to ``secret police,’’ the Nazi Gestapo, the Soviet KGB, and ``slave patrols.’’ They have called them a ``clear and present danger,’’ a ``reign of terror,’’ and ``nondescript thugs.’’ They have accused them of ``mayhem and death,’’ ``terror and violence,’’ and ``scar[ing] the American public.’’ These are not statements from fringe figures. This is what is so astounding. These are statements from prominent Governors, Senators, and lawmakers calling our Federal law enforcement and ICE these names. The vilification of Federal law enforcement is now central to the Democrats’ identity and their messaging. Look at the proposals by the Democrat Socialists of America. They would do away with ICE. They believe that by attacking our officers, they can get at President Trump. And in reality, what they are doing is putting a target on the officers’ backs. I have to admit that I was surprised when New York’s far-left socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani called Monday’s attack ``deeply disturbing.’’ In many ways, he has led the attack on ICE. He has called ICE a ``cruel agency that does nothing to further the interests of public safety’’ and ``too rotten to reform.’’ He claimed that they are ``terrorizing people’’ and should be abolished. He even signed an order to block ICE officers from arresting criminal--criminal--illegal aliens in schools, shelters, and hospitals. While Democrats bow to their radical base, Republicans are continuing to stand for the rule of law. Under President Trump’s leadership, we have focused on ensuring that our Federal law enforcement Agencies have all the resources they need to do their jobs. It is why we passed the Secure America Act. That is a landmark law that will fund ICE and Border Patrol through the end of President Trump’s term. That way, Federal law enforcement officers can continue to track down the violent criminal illegal aliens that Joe Biden brought into this country through that porous southern border. It is important to remember that every single Democrat voted against the law. Every single one voted against funding ICE and Border Patrol. Whenever they have the chance, they put illegal aliens in front of American citizens. They keep working overtime to try to make illegal legal. They want to return to Biden’s open border. But as long as Republicans are in charge, that will never happen. I yield the floor.”
Mr. President, on Monday, we saw yet another example of what has become disturbingly common, and that is an act of far-left terrorism. Outside the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, a man poured gasoline on the entrance, set it ablaze, and tossed fireworks into the raging flames. Thankfully, law enforcement responded swiftly to apprehend the suspect, who was armed with two axes, a hammer, a machete, and three knives, but not before he injured four innocent people. Authorities believe the attack was motivated by the suspect’s hatred of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Federal building he targeted is home to New York’s ICE field office and other Department of Homeland Security offices. Before the attack, he allegedly pushed a cart with a sign reading ``ICE Off Our Streets’’ and made anti-ICE statements. This attack did not come out of nowhere. It follows a monthslong campaign by Democrats to demonize ICE and our brave Federal law enforcement officers who are simply doing their job. They have likened them to ``secret police,’’ the Nazi Gestapo, the Soviet KGB, and ``slave patrols.’’ They have called them a ``clear and present danger,’’ a ``reign of terror,’’ and ``nondescript thugs.’’ They have accused them of ``mayhem and death,’’ ``terror and violence,’’ and ``scar[ing] the American public.’’ These are not statements from fringe figures. This is what is so astounding. These are statements from prominent Governors, Senators, and lawmakers calling our Federal law enforcement and ICE these names. The vilification of Federal law enforcement is now central to the Democrats’ identity and their messaging. Look at the proposals by the Democrat Socialists of America. They would do away with ICE. They believe that by attacking our officers, they can get at President Trump. And in reality, what they are doing is putting a target on the officers’ backs. I have to admit that I was surprised when New York’s far-left socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani called Monday’s attack ``deeply disturbing.’’ In many ways, he has led the attack on ICE. He has called ICE a ``cruel agency that does nothing to further the interests of public safety’’ and ``too rotten to reform.’’ He claimed that they are ``terrorizing people’’ and should be abolished. He even signed an order to block ICE officers from arresting criminal--criminal--illegal aliens in schools, shelters, and hospitals. While Democrats bow to their radical base, Republicans are continuing to stand for the rule of law. Under President Trump’s leadership, we have focused on ensuring that our Federal law enforcement Agencies have all the resources they need to do their jobs. It is why we passed the Secure America Act. That is a landmark law that will fund ICE and Border Patrol through the end of President Trump’s term. That way, Federal law enforcement officers can continue to track down the violent criminal illegal aliens that Joe Biden brought into this country through that porous southern border. It is important to remember that every single Democrat voted against the law. Every single one voted against funding ICE and Border Patrol. Whenever they have the chance, they put illegal aliens in front of American citizens. They keep working overtime to try to make illegal legal. They want to return to Biden’s open border. But as long as Republicans are in charge, that will never happen. I yield the floor.