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Read highlights from the exchange between Rep. Pfluger and the witnesses below:
Rep. Pfluger: Why are we here? I think it's pretty clear that, until proven otherwise, after five years of experience, that it seems like one side of the aisle is in favor of open borders and wants to abolish ICE, and I hope that can be proven wrong. The other side of the aisle [Republicans] want to enforce the laws that are on the books. Commissioner Scott, how many administrations have you worked for in your career?
Commissioner Scott: Since the Clinton administration.
Rep. Pfluger: So multiple Republicans, multiple Democrats.
Commissioner Scott: Correct.
Rep. Pfluger: Is it a crime to enter this country illegally and to skip a notice to appear, to skip a court-ordered appearance, and to not comply with the laws that are on the books?
Commissioner Scott: Yes, sir.
Rep. Pfluger: Has that changed since you started working for President Clinton?
Commissioner Scott: No.
Rep. Pfluger: So, I can't imagine establishing the fact that it is a crime to skip a notice to appear. We had ten to twelve million people who entered this country illegally in the Biden administration, as a conservative estimate. There are sanctuary cities all throughout the United States that have said we will not comply with federal laws. That's why we're here today. I can't imagine being a DHS officer, an ICE officer, and being threatened with violence, having death threats, being doxed, having your family identified, putting that on the internet and violently telling you that they are going to kill you because you are enforcing the laws that are on the books that were passed by both sides of the aisle, in this body. Director Lyons, how many of your agents are being doxxed, threatened, or harassed?
Director Lyons: We've had an over 8,000% increase in death threats.
Rep. Pfluger: I'm in the middle of working on a bipartisan domestic terrorism working group with another member on this committee. There is a group called Defend the 612 that has come out with tactics, techniques, and procedures in Minneapolis to do things like encourage protesters to impede law enforcement, to push civilians towards legally and physically risky confrontations, to help mobilize a counter protest, to coordinate strategies and trainings to aid illegal immigrants to avoid detention. Are you familiar with groups like this, Defend the 612?
Director Lyons: Yes, sir. We have multiple groups like that in all fifty states.
Rep. Pfluger: There's an article written by Christina Buttons, and I’d like unanimous consent to enter this into the record, called Inside the Minneapolis Ice Watch Network.
Chairman Garbarino: Without objection.
Rep. Pfluger: This article talks about these tactics, techniques, and procedures that put your law enforcement agents at risk. What is different about Minneapolis? What kind of coordination have you received from the local police department? We don't see any of this in Texas, and there have been many ice operations that have happened in Texas. But what's different from what you've seen in Minneapolis?
Director Lyons: Unfortunately, sir, in the beginning of the Minneapolis operation, we didn't see any cooperation at the state or the local level, whether it be from the Minneapolis Police Department or the Minnesota State Police, which led to ICE officers and agents, as well as our other federal partners, pretty much having to defend themselves from whatever impediment, riots or protests happened.
Rep. Pfluger: Were they told by local elected officials not to cooperate?
Director Lyons: Yes, sir.
Rep. Pfluger: Is that because they're a sanctuary city?
Director Lyons: I'm assuming that's what it is, sir, but I can't speak to the mind of those elected officials. They were ordered to stand down.
Rep. Pfluger: How did it make you feel, as somebody who carries out the laws that this body has passed, when you heard the mayor of Minneapolis say, “F ICE?”
Director Lyons: I mean, from a morale standpoint, it hurts us. To the fact that for decades, and I have worked since President Bush, ICE has always been in Minneapolis. We've always been in every major city and state. So it wasn't like it was a brand new thing. We've always been doing immigration enforcement. So that's demoralizing.
Rep. Pfluger: I hope that the other side of the aisle will read this article on Defense the 612 and look at the tactics, techniques, and procedures. And if this is domestic terrorism, or we have a group that's on Signal that is calling out agents and doing things to interrupt, intercede, and prevent law enforcement from carrying out the laws that this body passed, then you'll have the courage to call it domestic terrorism, if it is that way. And I yield back.
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