Tulsi Gabbard says Democrats’ attacks on ICE show exactly why she left party

Tulsi Gabbard accused Democratic leaders of 'endangering the lives of law enforcement officers' by defending cartels and gang members
PUBLISHED 4 HOURS AGO
Tulsi Gabbard renewed her criticism of the Democratic Party (Getty Images)
Tulsi Gabbard renewed her criticism of the Democratic Party (Getty Images)


WASHINGTON, DC: Tulsi Gabbard renewed her criticism of the Democratic Party on October 22, saying its current approach toward law enforcement, particularly Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), highlights the very reasons she decided to leave the party. 

Gabbard accused Democratic leaders of “endangering the lives of law enforcement officers” while defending cartels and gang members, calling it a “direct threat to the values of our country.”

Tulsi Gabbard accuses Democrats of 'putting ICE agents at risk'

In a recent interview with Fox News, Tulsi Gabbard claimed that Democrats are “targeting” ICE agents through their rhetoric and policies, even as the agency’s recruitment continues to rise.

She said this paradoxical hostility from political leaders, alongside growing interest in serving, underscores both the resilience of law enforcement officers and the deep flaws in the Democratic Party’s priorities.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 13: Tulsi Gabbard attends a live taping of Hannity at Fox News Channel Studios on September 13, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ferdman/Getty Images)
Tulsi Gabbard attends a live taping of Hannity at Fox News Channel Studios on September 13, 2023 in New York City (Steven Ferdman/Getty Images)

She further added that the Democratic Party’s attitude toward law enforcement has crossed a line from political opposition to active hostility, putting federal officers and their families in harm’s way.

“They’re essentially putting the lives of our law enforcement and their families at great risk,” she said. “This is not the values of our country, 1st Amendment and peaceful protest.”

Gabbard, who served four terms in Congress and ran for president in 2020, said she no longer recognizes the party she once represented. Gabbard argued that Democrats have shifted away from foundational American values, including respect for the rule of law and freedom of speech.

DETROIT, MI - MARCH 03:  Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) holds a Town Hall meeting on Super Tuesday Primary night on March 3, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan (Getty Images)

“This is a party that’s undermining the very foundation of this country,” she said, stressing that the party’s leadership has abandoned what she believes were once its core principles of integrity and accountability.

ICE recruitment grows despite 'anti-law enforcement climate'

Despite what she described as an “anti-law enforcement climate,” Tulsi Gabbard noted that ICE recruitment has risen sharply in recent months.

“ICE’s recruitment numbers have SKYROCKETED - even in the face of these threats coming [from] Democratic politicians,” she said.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: Federal agents patrol the halls of immigration court at the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building on June 20, 2025 in New York City. Federal agents are arresting immigrants during mandatory check-ins, as ICE ramps up enforcement following immigration court hearings. The Trump administration has ordered officials to increase detentions to 3,000 migrants per day. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Federal agents patrol the halls of immigration court at the Jacob K Javitz Federal Building on June 20, 2025 in New York City (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Gabbard interpreted the trend as a sign that many Americans continue to support law enforcement, regardless of political pressures.

She praised ICE agents for their service under difficult conditions, describing their commitment as an act of “true patriotism” and resilience in the face of growing political hostility.

President Donald Trump holds a town hall campaign event with Tulsi Gabbard on August 29, 2024 in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Trump is campaigning in key battleground states ahead of the November presidential election. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump holds a town hall campaign event with Tulsi Gabbard on August 29, 2024 in La Crosse, Wisconsin (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Reaffirming her decision to leave the Democratic Party in 2022, Gabbard said the party’s actions toward ICE are a reflection of the broader moral decline she has long criticized.

“What Democrats are doing right now is exactly why I left,” she said, adding that their current behavior illustrates a widening divide between the party’s leadership and the values of ordinary Americans.

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