Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has fiercely criticized prominent Democrats, including potential 2028 presidential hopefuls like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, for allegedly hosting webinars and disseminating resources that instruct illegal immigrants on how to ‘defy’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Mullin’s accusations come in the wake of President Trump’s decision to reverse a brief pause on ICE vehicle stops, a move Mullin defended by highlighting a staggering 1,300% increase in vehicle attacks against DHS officers and emphasizing the agency’s priority to ‘keep our officers safe and get criminals OFF our streets.’ Mullin directly linked this surge in ‘reckless illegal alien activity’ to what he described as ‘sanctuary politicians’ efforts to equip illegal immigrants with strategies to evade law enforcement. Specifically, Mullin alleged Ocasio-Cortez’s office hosted a ‘Know Your Rights With ICE’ webinar last year, providing guidance on evading arrests at homes, workplaces, or in public, and that she promoted similar ‘tips’ via Instagram posts. Newsom, according to Mullin, has promoted ‘sanctuary laws advising illegal aliens how to recognize ICE, block entry, and defy arrest,’ including expanded sanctuary policies in California and the publication of ‘Know Your Rights’ materials in multiple languages. Newsom’s office, in response, stated that such materials are necessary due to alleged failures by the Trump administration to train ICE officers on constitutional rights, asserting that ‘making sure everyone is aware of their rights’ is ‘nothing more American.’ Mullin also targeted Rep. Dan Goldman for a video encouraging illegal aliens to plan for ICE encounters and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for distributing flyers on evading arrest, reiterating that ‘illegal aliens will be arrested and deported wherever they are’ and warning that attempts to evade arrest are ‘dangerous.’ The controversy underscores a deepening partisan divide over immigration enforcement and the role of elected officials in advising immigrant populations on interacting with federal law enforcement.
Adapted from: Latest Political News on Fox News
