Senator Kennedy Warns of Renewed Anti-Law Enforcement Tactics Targeting ICE and Border Patrol
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — As protests continue to roil Minneapolis, Senator John Kennedy cautions that the city risks slipping back into a crisis reminiscent of the anti-law enforcement upheaval that followed George Floyd’s death in 2020. Kennedy argues that Democrat officials are now applying the same tactics that undermined local police to federal immigration agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), including Border Patrol, thereby threatening public safety and law enforcement effectiveness.
“There are some people in this world who enjoy hurting other people and taking other people’s stuff,” Kennedy said in a recent Fox News commentary. He emphasized that these individuals are not merely troubled or confused but antisocial, and that society relies on courageous law enforcement officers to confront such threats. The senator expressed concern that the defund-the-police movement, which gained traction after a few instances of police misconduct, wrongly portrayed law enforcement officers as worse than criminals and advocated replacing them with social workers.
Now, Kennedy warns, similar strategies are being used against federal immigration enforcement agents, risking a repeat of the destabilizing effects seen in Minneapolis. Reports indicate that Minnesota residents have organized makeshift “checkpoints” to monitor and track ICE agents, a tactic that echoes the mass protests and disruptions that followed the 2020 unrest. This development comes amid heightened tensions after two shootings involving CBP officers in the region.
Such actions complicate the work of agencies tasked with enforcing immigration laws and securing the border, as outlined by the Department of Homeland Security. The DHS has repeatedly underscored the importance of supporting officers who protect communities from criminal elements and uphold the rule of law.
Critics of the defund-the-police movement, including Kennedy, argue that these efforts undermine public safety by weakening law enforcement’s ability to respond effectively. The senator’s remarks reflect broader national debates about balancing reform with the need to maintain order and protect citizens.
While law enforcement agencies nationwide continue to face scrutiny and calls for reform, officials like Kennedy urge caution against repeating past mistakes that erode trust and hamper enforcement. The senator’s perspective highlights the ongoing challenges in addressing crime and immigration enforcement amid polarized political climates.
For more information on federal immigration enforcement and border security policies, visit the ICE official website and the CBP website. The Department of Homeland Security also provides updates on national security priorities and law enforcement initiatives.
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