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Michigan Congressman Clashes With Top Border Officials
Clear Facts
- Rep. Shri Thanedar criticized U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott during a House hearing.
- Thanedar accused federal officers of misconduct and said Scott “better hope” for a pardon from President Trump.
- Scott defended his actions, stating he was proud to serve America and did not need a pardon.
Tempers flared in Washington as Michigan Democrat Rep. Shri Thanedar confronted Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott during an oversight hearing. Thanedar was sharply critical of the federal immigration authorities and accused the agencies of acting unlawfully over the past year.
During the hearing, Thanedar said, “You better hope you get pardoned because you will be held accountable for the absolute disregard of the law your agencies have shown over the past year.”
The focus was recent federal law enforcement activity, including incidents in Minnesota that raised public concern. Rep. Thanedar labeled immigration officers “thugs” and questioned both Scott and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons about alleged misconduct.
He stated, “I’m just sick and tired of your agents running around in our cities, in our streets, causing illegal activities, ICE thugs attacking our communities, using our children as bait, referring to people as bodies and numbers, targeting people for their accents and the color of their skin, and killing American citizens, all while showing zero remorse for their actions.”
The congressman pressed further, asking, “Director Lyons and Commissioner Scott, do you think President Trump will pardon you and your boss, Kristi Noem, before he leaves office, just like he has for insurrectionists and his political allies? Do you believe President Trump will pardon you?”
In response, Scott said, “I’m not going to speak on behalf of President Trump, but I’ll tell you, I signed up for this job to protect America, and I’m very proud of the service that I provide, and I don’t need a pardon from anybody.”
Thanedar replied, “Well, you’d better hope so. You better hope you get pardoned. Because you will be held accountable for the absolute disregard of the law your agencies have shown over the past year.”
He argued that the agencies had “lost the trust of the American people” and highlighted his legislative efforts to abolish ICE and impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Thanedar insisted, “ICE must be abolished.”
The hearing ended when Committee Chair Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., concluded Thanedar’s time and called the session into recess.
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