Democratic Strategist Critiques Party’s Reaction to ICE Violence
On a recent episode of “2WAY Tonight,” Democratic strategist Julian Epstein expressed discontent with his party’s response to violence against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He pointed to a tragic incident that occurred during an ICE operation in Minneapolis, where agents shot and killed a 37-year-old woman who accelerated her vehicle toward them.
Epstein suggested that the inflammatory rhetoric from Democratic officials regarding ICE might have influenced the situation. He remarked that this language seems to create a kind of permission for violent actions, which he believes ultimately led to the loss of life in this case. “They haven’t effectively condemned ongoing violence, instead using terms like ‘Gestapo.’ This, in my view, gives certain groups on the radical left a sort of green light for these types of conflicts,” he stated.
He further highlighted a troubling disconnect among Democratic officials, saying they struggle to differentiate between free speech demonstrations and actions that obstruct or assault law enforcement. He feels that this misunderstanding contributes to an environment where such tragedies can occur. While he acknowledged differing opinions on the incident, he felt that some responsibility lies with the Democrats for fostering this atmosphere.
Epstein’s comments come in the context of remarks made by other Democratic leaders. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz referred to ICE as a “modern-day Gestapo” in a commencement speech at the University of Minnesota Law School, while Boston Mayor Michelle Wu compared ICE agents to neo-Nazi groups. Additionally, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called for ICE to leave the city following the shooting.
Statistics from the Department of Homeland Security revealed that there were 99 vehicular attacks on federal law enforcement from January 20 to November 18, which is double the amount reported during the same timeframe in 2024. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem noted that the ICE officer involved in the recent shooting had previously experienced a vehicular attack by an anti-ICE group and claimed that organized groups are encouraging individuals to use vehicles as weapons during law enforcement engagements.
