Dem Rep Jayapal Doubles Down on Smearing ICE as Attacks on Agents Surge [WATCH]

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., defended her recent claim that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is operating as a “terrorist force,” during an appearance Wednesday on CNN News Central.

Her comments drew sharp rebukes from the White House and immigration officials, who cited rising attacks on ICE agents and accused the congresswoman of endangering federal law enforcement.

These types of DISGUSTING smears are designed to demonize and villainize our brave ICE law enforcement.

This kind of garbage has led to a nearly 700% increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest murderers, rapists, and gang members. pic.twitter.com/krDfdz1bL9

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 3, 2025

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Jayapal’s remarks stemmed from a post she made Tuesday on Instagram, where she stated, “ICE is acting like a terrorist force. People across the country of all legal statuses — including U.S. citizens — are being kidnapped and disappeared off the street by masked men. No oversight, no accountability. Completely lawless.”

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During her interview with CNN host Brianna Keilar, Jayapal was asked to respond to a statement from White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, which was obtained by Fox News Digital.

“Jayapal’s disgusting comments warrant an immediate apology,” Jackson said.

“Heroic ICE officers are simply doing their jobs and enforcing federal immigration law, with the utmost professionalism.”

Jackson also said Jayapal’s rhetoric has had dangerous consequences.

“Dangerous smears by deranged leftists like Jayapal radicalize their supporters to violently attack and obstruct federal law enforcement,” Jackson said.

“Because of comments like Jayapal’s, assaults against ICE agents have increased by 500% this year. And that number will go even higher if Jayapal doesn’t stop with her smears.”

Jayapal responded by defending her post and reiterating her claims that ICE agents are operating in a lawless manner.

“What is deranged and cruel and outrageous is that, literally, we are seeing ICE agents, I assume they’re ICE agents. They say they are. They don’t have any identification. They’re wearing masks. They’re in plain clothes. They are coming and kidnapping and disappearing people on the streets of the United States,” she said.

“I never in a million years thought that that is something that I would see here in America,” Jayapal added.

“I think it is the administration that has to apologize to U.S. citizens that have been rounded up to legal, permanent residents, to people with legal statuses across the country who are getting swept up, people who have been here for 20 years and committed no crimes, getting swept up by masked men who are kidnapping them and deporting them.”

She went on to describe ICE enforcement actions as “outrageous,” “unconstitutional,” and “illegal.”

“It is absolutely terrorizing people, including small businesses, farmers,” Jayapal said.

“The round table I had in Spokane was with people from the Growers League, farmers who are terrified, restaurant owners who can’t have, you know, who are seeing their sales go down because nobody wants to come out and eat. Literally. People are so afraid, Brianna. It’s never something I thought I would see in the United States of America. The White House owes an apology to the American people for what they are doing.”

🚨INCREDIBLE: CNN reads a White House statement from @ATJackson47 about the DERANGED rhetoric that Pramilla Jayapal has been making about ICE agents.

Jayapal reacts in real time — & instead of apologizing for contributing to rising threats against ICE agents, she DOUBLES DOWN,… pic.twitter.com/KxZGtFodJa

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 2, 2025

The controversy comes amid rising tensions surrounding immigration enforcement, as attacks on ICE personnel have reportedly surged.

Tom Homan, President Trump’s Border Czar, addressed the issue on Monday during an appearance on The Will Cain Show.

He specifically pointed to a mobile app called ICEBlock, which is reportedly being used to track ICE activity in real time.

“Assault against ICE is up over 500%,” Homan said.

“Now you’ve got an app that’s going to tell where ICE operations are going to. It’s only a matter of time before ICE agents are ambushed by some nut, like what happened in L.A., throwing them out a cocktail, throwing bricks at these officers. This is just disgusting at every level.”

Homan has repeatedly warned that rhetoric labeling federal agents as “terrorists” or “kidnappers” could lead to violence.