Rep Pramila Jayapal blames ICE tactics for violence when pressed on Minnesota church protests

WASHINGTON, DC: Democratic Washington Rep Pramila Jayapal defended immigration protests after being questioned about demonstrators seen interrupting a church service during a Sunday, January 18, livestream in Minnesota.

Jayapal addressed the issue regarding anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demonstrations on air on CNN’s 'The Arena with Kasie Hunt'. 

When pressed on whether protesters crossed a line by entering a place of worship, she argued that protests are overwhelmingly peaceful and it is the tactics deployed by ICE agents and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are the real issue.

Her comments came amid escalating tensions in Minneapolis involving immigration enforcement, court action against federal agents and warnings from President Donald Trump about invoking the Insurrection Act. 

Jayapal defends protesters

Asked whether disrupting a church service went too far, Jayapal, whose religious affiliation isn't publicly specified, said, “I haven‘t reviewed the entire video for that, but I will just say that the vast majority of protesters, like 99.9%, have been engaging in peaceful protest.”

“A court decision on Friday [January 16] reaffirmed that. And actually said that it‘s the tactics of ICE agents and CBP [Customs and Border Protection] agents that are the problem here that are violating constitutional protections,” Jayapal added. 

Jayapal added that courts have upheld the constitutional right to peaceful protest and placed blame on federal immigration agencies for escalating confrontations.

“You do have the right to peacefully say that you disagree, to follow ICE agents and record what they are doing at a safe distance. And the reality is, it‘s been ICE and CBP that‘s been really inflaming tensions.”

Jayapal was also pressed about her past position on Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a reporter noted her involvement in efforts to abolish the agency.

When asked, “You actually are part of the movement to abolish ICE,” Jayapal responded, “I’ve never called for abolishing ICE.

 However, in 2018, Jayapal co-introduced HR 6361, legislation that proposed terminating ICE within one year, creating a commission to redesign its functions and “eliminate the agency as it stands,” citing concerns over family separations and describing the agency as “rogue.”

Violence heightens tensions

The court decision Jayapal was speaking about came after a legal battle against ICE and CBP agents for violating constitutional rights, particularly the Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.

That, in turn, came after an ICE agent in Minneapolis shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, an American citizen. 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said a vehicle driven by the 37-year-old struck an ICE agent and injured his torso before the agent fatally shot her.

The incident drew national attention and sparked off protests. 

The demonstrations prompted Trump to warn on January 18 that he would invoke the Insurrection Act as part of a military response if local officials failed to stop rioters from putting law enforcement at risk.

Tensions escalated further during a Saturday, January 17, rally in Minneapolis supporting ICE enforcement that was organized by online personality Jake Lang.

Left-wing rioters confronted attendees at the event, and Lang was reportedly attacked and stabbed. His body armor prevented serious injury, and he later said he was treated at a hospital for a head injury.