The former director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) argues that Democrats have not grasped any lessons from the 2024 election, and instead are committed to obstructing the agency’s efforts.
In a discussion with Tennessee GOP Senator Marsha Blackburn, former acting director Jonathan Fahey expressed frustration over the lack of progress in addressing illegal immigration. He accused Democrats of working to undermine federal immigration enforcement “at every turn.” These remarks follow a wave of protests against ICE in major cities and the enactment of sanctuary laws by liberal legislators.
“They’re trying to prevent and hinder the enforcement of ICE,” Fahey said in an interview shared through a podcast. “It’s almost comical to think that after the last election, they might ease their stance on open borders, yet they seem to have only intensified it. They’re not clear about their position on open borders, so instead, they just create confusion while obstructing ICE and undermining law enforcement.”
Fahey, who served during a turbulent time in Trump’s presidency, noted his belief that most Americans actually support deporting gang members. “I’ve never seen a vote on it, but I’d imagine about 95% of Americans would back deporting gang affiliates,” he remarked. Sadly, he sees Democrats focusing on expanding immigration policies and perceiving potential new voters among undocumented individuals.
When President Trump entered office, he aimed to tackle the border crisis and initiate what would become the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history. Currently, the scene appears far different, with reports indicating around 62,000 individuals were released under the Biden administration’s approach in May 2024. The White House is nearing its goal of conducting 3,000 daily arrests, while ICE has achieved over 2,000 arrests each day.
These actions haven’t come without pushback. Major cities led by Democrats have either implemented or expanded sanctuary policies since Trump’s 2024 victory, complicating arrests of undocumented migrants with criminal records. Recently, Los Angeles has been the center of significant unrest over deportations, leading to over $20 million in damages.
Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom have been criticized for their inability to quell the violence, while some Democrats are actively confronting federal immigration officials.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka encountered legal trouble in May after being barred from an ICE detention facility alongside other Democrats. While he was initially charged with trespassing, those charges were subsequently dropped. Additionally, New Jersey Representative Ramonica McQuiver faced charges related to assaulting officers amidst chaotic circumstances.
In a similar vein, ICE detained mayoral candidate Bradlander from New York City after he allegedly assaulted federal agents while trying to intervene in immigration court.
Following the deportation of Kilmer Abrego Garcia, an abuser linked to an immigration smuggling ring, Democrats rallied to support him. Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen and a U.S. lawmaker even traveled to El Salvador to advocate for Garcia’s return.
“It seems that Democrats have prioritized identity politics and illegal immigration over cooperation with working Americans, thinking it might secure long-term benefits,” Fahey asserted.
