(OPINION) Trump and Noem Face Political Pushback Over ICE Success

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The political opposition to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and President Trump—despite the good they are doing for America—is difficult to understand. Is it jealousy of their political clout? A struggle over power and fundraising? Frustration that they cannot be controlled or bought? Or something else entirely?

Bill Glahn of Power Line covered Noem’s recent trip to Minnesota, where she reported that more than 4,300 people of interest had been removed from the state’s streets, most with serious criminal records. Despite this, Noem was criticized and opposed by the Minnesota DFL Party, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, and Governor Tim Walz, among others.

Governors Accused of Fueling Anti-ICE Sentiment

Hank Long of Alpha News wrote that, given “Governor Walz’s anti-ICE agenda,” Noem wondered “how he sleeps at night,” considering the harm done to Minnesota residents by drug dealers, felons, and traffickers. RedState reporter Sister Toldjah cited the violence and threats leveled by Democrats and their allies who have called ICE agents “fascists,” “Gestapo,” and worse—naming Governor Walz, California Governor Gavin Newsom (“Secret Police”), Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (“Nazi”), and similar taunts from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

Critics claim that these labels encourage violence and even lethal attacks against officials enforcing immigration law. Ironically, Newsom has claimed that Trump, “calling them out over their own words,” is “reckless, dangerous, and putting lives at risk,” adding that “it is Trump who must tone it down.”

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Irony and Politics in the Immigration Debate

In an October article, Newsmax reported that “DHS arrested more than 480,000 illegal immigrants” within a nine-month period.

Ironically, instead of praising ICE for helping protect citizens from violent criminals, many of these same officials have declared ICE the enemy—for doing what they, evidently, cannot or will not do: keep their people safe.

Listen to Tom each Tuesday and Thursday afternoon after the 5 PM news as he joins Andy Brownell for Rochester Today on News-Talk 1340 KROC-AM and 96.9 FM.