ICYMI: Rep. Dave Min on MN ICE Operation: This is a “Un-American,” “Evil,” and “Completely Illegal”

Washington, D.C. - Last week, Representative Dave Min (CA-47) joined members of Congress in Minnesota for a field hearing to conduct oversight of ICE misconduct and Donald Trump's law breaking.

Over the past two weeks, ICE's Operation Metro Surge has sent thousands of agents to the Minneapolis area, inflicting rampant lawlessness and violence upon Minnesotans.

Rep. Min has been outspoken about the lawlessness of ICE, sending multiple letters demanding answers from Department of Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem, then-Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Todd Lyons, and Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Cuffari.

Read and watch more below.

WATCH REP. MIN'S HEARING REMARKS HERE

Spectrum News 1-WATCH HERE

"You never thought it could happen here in the United States, where masked men are just literally going up to people in the random street, and just kidnapping, assaulting, disappearing them…. We saw this play out a little bit, less extreme, but we saw some of the same lawlessness last year. I am very concerned that this is going to come back to Southern California-that's going to impact our constituents again."

The OC Register

Rep. Dave Min, in Minnesota, warns of future ICE actions in Southern California

Kaitlyn Schallhorn

• Recent immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota - including the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis mother by federal officers - should be a warning to other communities, including Southern California, said Rep. Dave Min.

• Min, an Irvine Democrat, was part of a group of more than two dozen Democratic lawmakers who converged in a chilly Minneapolis on Friday morning, Jan. 16, for a field hearing about federal immigration enforcement and the violence that has occurred in the area. They decried recent activity from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, including the killing of Renee Good, deaths of people in ICE custody, apparent deployment of tear gas on students and more.

• Min said he participated in the hearing to show support for those in the community impacted by the ICE activity and because of concern for his constituents in Orange County.

• "I'm concerned that what happened in Orange County - and Southern California more generally - last year is going to come back more violent and more extreme," Min said. "What we're seeing in Minnesota right now is much more activity and infused with a complete lawlessness and unaccountability and violence that didn't exist last year in Southern California."

• "When ICE comes back to Southern California - and I think they will en masse at some point - I have deep concerns that if we don't stand up right now with Minnesotans, this will be even worse for us and our communities," he said.

• Min, in an interview from Minnesota - where temperatures weren't expected to get higher than 30 degrees and light snow was forecast on Friday - said he expects upcoming funding bills, related to Homeland Security's budget, could be an avenue where Democrats concerned with ICE could make an impact. Still, he said criticism of recent ICE actions in Minnesota shouldn't be partisan.

• "What's happening right now is grossly illegal and unconstitutional," Min said. "This shouldn't be a partisan issue, not a left or right thing. Everyone should come together to say federal law enforcement agents shouldn't go around terrorizing people."