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Democrats need to go on record

July 18, 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C.—House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) made the following statement following the House vote on H.Res. 990, Supporting the officers and personnel who carry out the important mission of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. While Republicans overwhelmingly showed their support for the rule of law and the men and women who risk their lives to enforce it, Democrats have introduced legislation to abolish the organization and withheld their support today.

“I strongly support ICE, including the brave men and women who risk their lives to keep America safe. Today’s vote to support our Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents should send a strong message that a majority of Congress stands behind these brave men and women. The fact that House Democrats refused to stand up for American national security over open borders is concerning and irresponsible. Now, all radical Democrats in Washington need to go on record and tell voters if they will still attempt to abolish ICE if they take the majority in Congress.

“Our nation was founded on the rule of law, and to call for the abolishment of such a vital law enforcement agency is a radical and dangerous idea. Our country is facing serious challenges like the alarming rise of gangs, terrorists, and the increased prevalence of illegal drugs pouring over the border into our neighborhoods. ICE agents play a critical role in apprehending these violent criminals and removing illegal drugs before they reach our communities, and ICE agents are actively involved in rescuing children from the human trafficking that is also a major threat that we need to keep confronting. That is why I support ICE and we should all stand behind them in their dangerous and critical work. I thank my colleague Clay Higgins for introducing this important resolution.”

Before the vote, Whip Scalise spoke on the House floor to emphasize his support for ICE and its agents.

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Click here or on the image above to watch his remarks.

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleague from Virginia for yielding the time. I especially want to thank my colleague, Congressman Higgins from Louisiana, for his leadership in bringing this resolution to the floor. What does the resolution do?

"It simply says we stand behind our ICE agents. Those brave men and women who are keeping America safe. These are the people on the front lines of removing terrorists from our country. These are the people last year alone, who removed over 100,000 criminals from our country.

"And they want to vote present? My colleagues on the other side are talking about voting present. Let me ask you, Mr. Speaker, when you look at the numbers, last year, ICE Agents, they rescued or identified 518 victims of human trafficking.

"What if those ICE agents would have voted present that day instead of rescuing those victims of human trafficking? Luckily, Mr. Speaker, they didn't vote present. They showed up and did their job to keep America safe.

"What if last year, Mr. Speaker, those ICE agents who rescued or identified 904 people who were sexually exploited children, what if they voted present that day instead of rescuing those 904 sexually exploited children? Luckily, they didn't vote present, Mr. Speaker. They showed up and did their job.

"We need to stand up for them. We need to stand up for what's important to keeping this country safe.

"Are we for open borders? Absolutely not. Unless you don't vote yes on this resolution. If you don't vote yes, there is one choice. There is one button to hit if you support these men and women who are keeping our country safe, who are keeping us from open borders. That vote is yes. Any other vote than a yes vote is for open borders.

"...Let's look at what's resolved here. That we express our continued support for those ICE agents; that we denounce calls to abolish ICE; and that we support efforts of all federal agencies, state law enforcement, military personnel, who bring law and order to our nation's border. The only vote on this resolution is yes."