Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) said she finds “inspiration” in anti-ICE protests that block federal law enforcement from doing their jobs.
During an appearance on MSNBC’s “The Joy Reid Show,” the Democrat congresswoman praised activists who obstruct Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in courthouses.
“Some of the most inspiring things have been when people encircle courtrooms and refuse to allow ICE agents in,” Jayapal said.
“There are all kinds of nonviolent resistance tactics that we have to use.”
Jayapal used the segment to promote her new progressive activist initiative, Resistance Lab, as well as her book, “Use the Power You Have: A Brown Woman’s Guide to Politics and Political Change.”
According to the group’s website, Resistance Lab is “an in-depth organizing training to build our movement and give you the tools you need in this moment.”
The next training, scheduled for July 13, will teach what the site calls “the documented most effective ways to counter democratic backsliding.”
“We’ve already trained over 10,000 people in all 50 states,” Jayapal told Reid.
“And the next one’s coming up on July 13. So, we’re going to keep doing those, because that is what we have to realize is the United States has been complacent for too long.”
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Jayapal’s rhetoric comes on the heels of mounting criticism over her description of ICE as a “terrorist force” in a recent Instagram post.
She later doubled down on that claim during an interview with CNN, where she dismissed criticism from the White House and said the administration “owes an apology” to Americans.
Jayapal also called ICE’s immigration enforcement efforts “outrageous,” “unconstitutional,” and “illegal.”
The timing of Jayapal’s comments drew strong condemnation from immigration enforcement officials.
Just hours after her MSNBC appearance, an ICE facility in Texas came under attack in what officials called a “coordinated assault” that left a local police officer wounded.
Later the same day, a U.S. Border Patrol officer was shot in a separate incident.
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyon issued a scathing response.
“Rep. Jayapal’s glorification of the harassment of law enforcement officers and of ignoring our nation’s laws is particularly concerning coming from a sitting congresswoman,” Lyon told Fox News.
“Moreover, these comments came on July 4, just hours before a coordinated attack at an ICE facility in Texas, during which a local law enforcement officer was shot.
“And today — also in Texas— a violent attacker shot a U.S. Border Patrol officer.”
“Inciting activists is not a game; there are very real consequences,” he continued.
“I’m relieved that both these officers are expected to recover, but how much more dangerous rhetoric can we as a nation tolerate before it’s too late?”
Jayapal’s targeting of ICE isn’t new.
The Washington lawmaker has previously called to dismantle the agency entirely and has repeatedly voted against measures to increase border enforcement and interior deportation.
READ MORE – Democrat Pramila Jayapal Demands Trump ‘Apologize’ for ICE ‘Kidnapping’ Illegal Aliens
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