Rep. Jerry Nadler was hammered by Republican leaders Tuesday after the New York Democrat suggested Democrats would be justified in shooting masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Nadler called ICE agents “masked hoodlums” and “goons” during remarks at a House Judiciary Committee hearing. Critics blasted his statements as reckless and dangerous.
“What is really the major problem in this country today is the fascism in our streets. The attacks on American citizens, by masked hoodlums. If you were attacked by a masked person, you might think you were being kidnapped. You’d be justified in shooting the person — to protect yourself,” Nadler said during the committee hearing.
“We see people being shot, for what? For driving a car?” Nadler claimed. “We see people — we see these …. ICE goons break into people’s homes without a warrant. We see them drag out a man, an American citizen in his underwear without even permitting him — in the snow, without even permitting him to get dressed.”
Vice President JD Vance immediately condemned Nadler’s remarks.
“Jerry Nadler is one of the highest ranking Democrats in the House of Representatives and he is openly calling for people to shoot federal law enforcement,” Vance wrote on X. “This is despicable behavior from an elected official and I’m sure the leftwing media will cover it extensively.”
Donald Trump Jr. also slammed the Democratic congressman.
“This is demented,” Trump Jr. wrote. “Democrats once again openly calling for violence!!!”
The comments came as ICE agents face a massive surge in violence and threats. According to the Department of Homeland Security, death threats against ICE agents have increased by 8,000 percent, while physical assaults on agents have risen more than 1,300 percent. Vehicular assaults against ICE personnel have skyrocketed by 3,200 percent.
ICE agents have been wearing masks because activist groups have been actively publishing their identities and home addresses online, putting the agents and their families at risk. The tactic, known as doxxing, has been used to intimidate and threaten federal law enforcement officers carrying out immigration enforcement.
Nadler is one of the highest-ranking Democrats in the House of Representatives and serves on the House Judiciary Committee, which has oversight responsibilities for the Department of Homeland Security and immigration enforcement.