Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, told MSNBC on Sunday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) resembled "slave patrols" and argued that white supremacists commit murders at higher rates than undocumented immigrants.
Speaking to host Ali Velshi, Crockett said law enforcement and the public must "follow the data and facts" but suggested the focus on crimes by undocumented immigrants is misplaced. "For every immigrant that you have an example of I'll raise you at least two to five White supremacist if not more right?" she said.
Crockett drew a link between modern policing and historical slave patrols, saying that an understanding of that history shapes her view of ICE. "As somebody who understands history, when I see ICE, I see slave patrols," she said. She added that she had not lived through the slave patrol period but said the history of policing in the United States informs present-day law enforcement practices.
The comments came as ICE reported in September 2024 that there were about 13,000 convicted murderers on its docket and 1,845 people with pending homicide charges, figures that include convictions from both inside the U.S. and abroad. ICE also reported that 662,566 individuals on its docket had a criminal history. Those statistics have been cited in debates over immigration enforcement and public safety.
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a hold that had restricted the federal government's ability to carry out immigration raids in Los Angeles, a move that allowed federal agents broader discretion in conducting enforcement actions, including use of criteria such as language spoken when questioning individuals.
Crockett's remarks also come after controversy earlier this month when she referred to Kayla Hamilton, a 20-year-old woman who prosecutors say was sexually assaulted and strangled by an MS-13 member who was in the country illegally, as a "random dead person" during a House hearing. That comment drew bipartisan criticism and heightened attention to Crockett's statements on immigration and crime.
Crockett has been a polarizing figure on Capitol Hill. In a separate incident reported previously, she exchanged heated remarks with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and used a pejorative description after Greene criticized her appearance. Crockett has defended strong rhetoric by her colleagues in other contexts, and on Sunday she emphasized her view that policing and immigration enforcement should be examined through historical and data-driven lenses.
Her comments were made during a broader national debate over immigration enforcement, public safety, and the role of federal agencies such as ICE. Lawmakers and advocates have cited a range of statistics and incidents on both sides of the issue as they press for either tougher enforcement or reforms to immigration and policing practices.
Crockett reiterated that policymakers should rely on verified data when shaping enforcement and public-safety policy and said historical context is necessary to understand contemporary law enforcement structures. Her office did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.