Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett criticized how the Trump administration is using immigration enforcement as a form of political performance, rather than focusing on real public service. She was responding to comments from Jason Houser, a former ICE chief of staff under President Biden, who said that what’s happening now feels more like a staged show than genuine law enforcement.
Crockett said it’s frustrating that the government is treating immigration enforcement like entertainment, comparing it to a reality TV show. She pointed out that this kind of behavior is why so many people from Fox News have been brought into the administration not for expertise, but to create drama. She emphasized that this work is supposed to be about serving the American people, not creating fear or turning ICE into a tool for political stunts.
She also called out the habit of treating everyone ICE arrests as if they’re dangerous or evil. Crockett argued that just because someone is detained by ICE doesn’t mean they deserve to be villainized.
The comments came during a House hearing looking into recent tensions between Democratic lawmakers and federal immigration agents, especially around Delaney Hall, a major detention center in New Jersey. Recently, a visit by Democratic officials turned chaotic, leading to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka being arrested and another lawmaker, Rep. LaMonica McIver, being accused of helping cause the disruption.
Houser, who testified at the hearing, said he had overseen hundreds of facility visits during his time at ICE and had never seen anything like what happened at Delaney Hall. He believed the whole situation was fueled by the Trump administration using ICE operations for political drama, not for actual law enforcement needs.
Crockett agreed, saying the incident was clearly out of the ordinary. She noted that video of McIver showed her calmly explaining the reason for their visit, not acting aggressively.
Houser also criticized ICE under Trump for going too far targeting people without criminal records, closing off legal immigration options, and taking away protections. He clarified that he supports strong law enforcement, but believes it should be based on smart strategies, not on fear-based crackdowns on innocent people.
Crockett ended by saying it’s time to get back to focusing on real issues that affect Americans, and to stop using people caught in the immigration system as scapegoats for political gain.
