Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett delivered a forceful condemnation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the first Democratic primary debate of the 2026 cycle.
During the debate, the outspoken Congresswoman sharply criticized the federal agency’s conduct in recent enforcement operations — particularly in Minnesota — and likened its actions to historical authoritarian abuses.
Speaking Saturday, Jan 24, 2026, at a debate hosted by the Texas AFL-CIO, Crockett, who represents Texas’s 30th Congressional District, accused federal immigration agents of operating beyond their legal mandate and asserted that recent shootings involving ICE agents illustrate a deeply troubling trend.
Citing the two recent fatal encounters in Minneapolis, Crockett argued that ICE’s enforcement tactics have “crossed legal and ethical lines” and, in her view, created conditions uncomfortably reminiscent of Nazi Germany.
“They are supposed to do Immigration and Customs Enforcement, not going after U.S. citizens, not going after people that are documented. That is not what they are supposed to do,” Crockett said during the debate. “They are turning us into Nazi Germany by saying they’re going door to door. They are going after people because of their accent or the color of their skin… because this Supreme Court gave them carte blanche ability to do so.”
Crockett’s comments reflect growing frustration among some lawmakers over federal immigration operations in Minnesota, where ICE and other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents have faced intense criticism following the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens during enforcement actions.
Critics on both sides of the political aisle have called for transparent investigations and clearer accountability mechanisms for agents involved in use-of-force incidents.
In the broader debate, Crockett and her Democratic rival, State Representative James Talarico, both called for major changes to federal immigration enforcement, with Talarico describing ICE as akin to a “secret police force” that should be reformed or replaced with an agency focused on genuine public safety.
Crockett also criticized the Trump administration’s broader approach to immigration policy and DHS leadership, including calls from some Democrats to hold senior officials, such as DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, accountable for oversight failures. Her comparative language sparked immediate pushback from opponents and commentators who argued that equating existing U.S. law enforcement practices to those of totalitarian regimes was inappropriate, while supporters defended her framing as a forceful critique rooted in historical understanding.
The remarks come as debates over immigration enforcement, civil liberties, and executive authority play a central role in national politics, particularly in primary races where candidates are seeking to distinguish themselves on issues of justice and government accountability.
(Click here to watch a video of Crockett saying ICE is turing the U.S. into Nazi Germany)
Crockett’s rhetoric signals a broader trend among progressive lawmakers pressing for structural changes to ICE’s authority and operations amid intense public scrutiny.
