As discussions around immigration and customs enforcement heat up among Democrats, it seems they’ve lost touch with their earlier beliefs from 2008 when President Obama was directing ICE actions.
“Let’s reflect on the past briefly, specifically when CNN joined ICE on the ground in Chicago during Obama’s presidency,” noted Blaze TV host Sarah Gonzalez.
She highlighted, “As you dig into this report, it turns out to portray ICE in a rather favorable light.”
The findings reveal that although ICE is detaining undocumented immigrants, it’s unexpectedly quiet, with minimal protests surfacing.
“There’s no indication of ICE presence. No whistles blowing, no one attempting to chase down journalists, and no crowds urging, ‘ICE is here. Come out, ICE,'” Gonzalez noted, quite astonished.
“Before the narrative shifted with ‘Orangeman Bad,’ things were pretty stable. It’s worth reminding these progressive voices that everything was fine when Obama was doing similar actions,” she added.
Under President Trump in 2025, there were about 2.5 million deportations. That includes around 605,000 enforced removals and about 1.9 million voluntary ones. Obama, on the other hand, oversaw the deportation of over 3 million individuals.
“By the time Trump finishes his second term, he may likely have deported even more than Obama. But as of now, Barack Obama still leads with over 3 million deportations,” she explained.
Sarah emphasized, “Obama was quite clear and unrepentant about his stance,” sharing a clip where Obama articulated his views.
In a CNN interview back in 2008, Obama stated, “Since George Bush’s term began, five million undocumented individuals have crossed the border. This situation has triggered significant public concern as economic conditions become strained.”
He continued, “Often, undocumented workers are being exploited by employers, receiving less than minimum wage and not adhering to safety regulations. As president, my priority will be ensuring necessary border security, which is just the first part.”
He also mentioned the necessity to address employers directly, stressing that it’s more likely for an employer to win the lottery than to face legal action for hiring undocumented workers. “We have to change this. Employers need to be held accountable,” he asserted.
Reflecting on Obama’s 2008 remarks, Gonzalez remarked that he advocated for undocumented individuals to return home and for employers to face consequences for hiring them. She concluded, “Today’s Democratic Party wouldn’t accept someone like Obama who took such stances. It’s a stark shift in perspective.”
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