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Aug. 6, 2008 – 11:28 p.m.
ICE Chief Calls for Congress to Discipline Lawmaker for ‘Gestapo’ Remark
By John Bicknell, CQ Staff
The head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will ask Congress to consider taking disciplinary action against one of its members for a statement he made equating ICE agents with the Gestapo, a senior agency official said Wednesday.
Luis V. Gutierrez , vice chairman of the House Judiciary subcommittee that handles immigration, has called for a moratorium on ICE enforcement actions until Congress passes a comprehensive overhaul, something it has failed to do in each of the past two years.
In a column written for Politico, Gutierrez, D-Ill., commenting on recent ICE arrests of illegal immigrants in Iowa, said: “You know who is in charge now? The Gestapo agents at Homeland Security. They are in charge.”
A senior ICE official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Julie L. Myers, the assistant secretary of Homeland Security for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was “absolutely appalled and deeply angered” by the statement. The official said Myers would send a letter to senior members of Congress asking that disciplinary action be taken against Gutierrez’ for his remarks.
Another official, Jamie Zuieback, director of congressional affairs for ICE, went on the record.
“It’s not OK,” Zuieback said. “Aside from being demeaning to the law enforcement officers that uphold the very laws passed by Mr. Gutierrez’s Congress, it’s potentially dangerous. No member of Congress should be encouraging the public to defy or demean federal law enforcement officers. Words matter.”
A call seeking comment from Gutierrez was not returned.
Similar comments from the immigration activist community are not all that uncommon, and at least one other Democratic House member has made a similar remark.
At a February hearing, California Democrat Sam Farr , assessing ICE’s tactics, said, “What happens is the public image of you becomes one of not this compassionate law enforcement agency but essentially a Gestapo-type agency that is knocking on doors.”
At that hearing, Myers responded by saying “Congressman Farr, we are not the Gestapo, and I will not listen to you call . . . us Gestapo.”
A version of this story originally appeared on CQ Homeland Security.
Comments
ATF has allways been the Gestapo in the past. Remember Ruby Ridge and Waco? I doubt if they will give up the power to ICE.
It is obvious to anyone that reads this article, that Luis V. Gutierrez represents the illegals from Mexico, more then he is willing to protect the laws of this country, which he swore to uphold. He is just another political clown that is willing to subvert American law, he would fit much better on the left coast then he does in Illinois.
As a law-abiding, taxpaying, legal American, I demand more than an apology from Gutierrez, Baca, and the majority of other members of the Hispanic Caucus. They should be forced to resign. Every elected official has sworn to uphold the interests of America - not Mexico. Citizens of the U.S. are overwhelmed due to the consequences of 30M illegal aliens who have invaded this country. We do not need, want, or deserve to have U.S. Congressmen enjoin with Anti-American groups such as LaRaza and the ACLU (both receive U.S. tax dollars) to further contribute to the take over of this country by Mexico. We are in a war in Iraq and Afghanistan; we are also experiencing a war at our souther border. For this reason, Gutierrez and Baca should be charged with sedition.
It is in the best interests of illegal aliens and their enablers to DEMONIZE law enforcement in a feeble attempt to have them suspend enforcing our laws. Now who is creating hate eh Guiterrez? Law enforcement is not nicey nice. You break the law as in coming here illegally, you pay the price and that price is to be detained and DEPORTED. We have millions of people who deserve that and ICE is really lagging behind the SURGE of illegals we get every single day across the border.
ICE has become more like the Gestapo every year. When detainee Hiu Lui Ng complained of excruciating back pain, agents dragged him by his shackles, bruising his hands and legs, and refused to give him medical treatment. Last Wednesday he died in custody, his body riddled with cancer and his spine fractured. No apology is needed for telling the truth. It's ICE that should not just apologize, but stop its criminal human rights abuses.
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