Amid Surge In ICE Hiring, Durbin Remarks On Low Standards Of ICE Recruits Who Have Failed Drug Tests, Have Pending Criminal Charges, And More

Amid Surge In ICE Hiring, Durbin Remarks On Low Standards Of ICE Recruits Who Have Failed Drug Tests, Have Pending Criminal Charges, And More

In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin again denounced President Trump's so-called "Operation Midway Blitz" and called on his Republican colleagues to stand up against the President's cruel mass deportation scheme

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today denounced the low hiring standards of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recruits amid a surge in hiring. The Trump Administration announced their goal of onboarding 10,000 new agents by the end of the year-which would double the number of deportation officers, from roughly 6,000 to 16,000. Durbin also spoke out on the Administration's so-called "Operation Midway Blitz," which has been used as a mechanism by the President to sow fear in Illinois communities as immigration officials have been tasked with carrying out the Trump Administration's cruel mass deportation scheme.

Durbin began by denouncing the Trump Administration's false narrative that federal agents are only going after the "worst of the worst" during these aggressive immigration raids.

"Of more than 600 immigrants recently arrested, do you know how many of them had significant criminal history? Sixteen-16 out of more than 600. Nationwide, ICE arrested nearly 75,000 people with no criminal history between January 20 and October [15]. Federal immigration agents have arrested and detained: a mother on her way to visit her 15-day-old baby in the NICU; a teacher at a preschool in front of her young students; [and] day laborers, vendors, construction workers, and cooks simply trying to make a living and support their families. Immigration agents arrested and detained at least 40 U.S. citizens in Illinois alone between late August and early November. Does that sound like we're getting rid of 'the worst of the worst'? People with no criminal history," Durbin said.

Durbin continued his remarks by calling on his Republican colleagues to stand up against the Trump Administration's cruel campaign against immigrants.

"I have urged my Republican colleagues… to consider the possibility that these raids could come to a city they represent, and they would be faced with the same reality. Would they call out these abuses of power? Well, I regret to inform them that that time has come. After wreaking havoc in Illinois, Border Patrol official Greg Bovino and his traveling circus have hit the road and descended on more communities, including in red states. Last month, in Charlotte, North Carolina, a video posted to social media showed a U.S. citizen construction worker being swarmed by federal agents while in his vehicle," Durbin continued. "The man said the agents 'didn't believe I was an American citizen' and 'wanted to know where I was born.' He was released only after agents verified his citizenship."

In another incident in Marrero, Louisiana, a viral video showed a silver, unmarked SUV pulling up to a woman and two masked agents exiting to chase her. She repeatedly yelled that she was a U.S. citizen and to "leave [her] alone" before making it to her property. Other states, including Florida and Texas, have also witnessed increased federal immigration enforcement operations.

Durbin then proceeded to talk about the Trump Administration's increase in hiring ICE recruits.

Durbin continued, "The Trump Administration should be working to improve screening, hiring, and training of recruits before unleashing them onto the streets of America. Instead, they have lowered requirements-including [by] loosening the age restrictions for prospective agents and shortening the training period from 13 weeks to a mere six weeks... Recent reporting suggests that these new, lowered hiring standards have resulted in ICE recruits who have: barely been able to read or write; failed drug tests; displayed tattoos associated with gangs and white supremacists; failed to meet basic physical fitness requirements; and even have pending criminal charges."

Durbin concluded, "These are the people that President Trump is attempting to release onto our streets to restore 'law and order.' With these lower standards, these troubling incidents I described are definitely going to increase. Given all of this, I ask my Republican colleagues: if you think we need to keep an eye on the federal government, why don't we start here? Will any of you rebuke this lawlessness and cruelty? What will it take for you to finally do so? We ought to be united in calling out these abuses. Secretary Noem wants to play dress up in her camo wardrobe, demanding government jets to tour her battleground states… [and] arrest ordinary people who are working hard on tough jobs. I believe [this] is an attempt to change basic Constitutional principles. We have to stand up and speak out. Is this what America is really all about?"

Video of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

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