FLASHBACK: Gov Walz amplified comment comparing ICE raids to ‘terrorism’ in America

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in 2017 pushed the argument that ICE raids represented “terrorism” in America, while assuring audiences that he supported sanctuary cities.

“The massive ICE raid in Worthington that occurred one week after I was elected in 2006 remains one of the most moving events for me,” said Walz, who was a congressman at the time. told the crowd Approximately 300 people attended a town hall event held in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District (adjacent to MN-01) in 2017.

“As an elected congressman, I drove to Worthington and walked into the basement of the Catholic church where Father Brixius was. He asked me to look around at all the crying children and said, ‘This is what terrorism looks like in America today.'”

Walz, who was standing next to Democratic Rep. Angie Craig, continued speaking as the audience applauded.

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“What I told them then was, I have my voting card in my pocket and every vote I take is to make sure these people are protected,” Walz continued.

Waltz was referring to raids conducted by ICE in 2006 as part of Operation Wagon Train.According to ICE Director Julie L. Myers:In 2010, ICE agents uncovered a scheme in which illegal immigrants and others stole or bought the identities and Social Security numbers of possibly hundreds of U.S. citizens and legal residents to obtain jobs at a Swift meatpacking plant.

Later in the speech, Walz defended sanctuary cities, telling the story of the undocumented immigrants who have suffered in his own district.

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Democratic vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaks during a campaign event in Detroit, Michigan, on Aug. 7, 2024. Kamala Harris and newly selected vice presidential nominee Tim Walz have been campaigning across the country this week. (Andrew Harnick)

““We have a man in the First District who was here on an exchange,” Waltz said. “His visa expired, and he stayed here, built a life here. He had no criminal record. He contributed to our community for 22 years, he had a job. He had no legal status to live here permanently. His two young daughters were assaulted. He called the police, he was arrested and deported. We are not those people.

“So when people say sanctuary cities are a way for people to break the law, our police serve us and protect our communities. Our citizens need to know that if they report a crime against themselves or others to the police, they will be protected. Police don’t ask about immigration status because that’s not their job.”

Craig, who is currently seeking reelection, did not dispute Walz’s comments and continued to discuss the need for comprehensive immigration reform.

“I’m not ready to give up on comprehensive immigration reform just yet,” Craig said. “Just four years ago, the Senate introduced a bill and then the world went to hell. So we’re going to take the world back and stand up for our neighbors and invite them into this country.”

“And I stood on stage last night at Inver Hills Community College and I saw the best of America. I saw America walking across the stage. That college is about 35 percent immigrant community, 35 percent people of color. That’s the greatest thing in the world, so I had to give it up.”

Craig continued, “We have to help our Muslim voters. We have to invite them into our homes. We have to be the people we want to see in the world. And just like in 2012 with the fight for same-sex marriage, you know what won us the victory? We stood up and said, ‘I’m your neighbor.’ We stood up and said, ‘My kids will play baseball with your kids.’ That’s what we won.”

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Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz appeared on stage together during an election event at Temple University’s Liacoras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 6, 2024. Harris selected the 60-year-old Midwestern governor over other candidates, ending weeks of speculation about who her running mate would be. (Andrew Harnick/Getty Images)

Waltz said at the town hall: First reported This was reported by AlphaNews in 2017.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Harris-Waltz campaign and Craig’s office but did not receive a response.