Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has made waves since she came onto the political scene. She's become the face – and the darling – of the progressive movement. She hasn't been afraid to challenge to the Democratic establishment. And she did it again this weekend. Ocasio-Cortez chided fellow Democrats who voted in favor of adding Rep. Doug Collins' (R-GA) amendment to alert immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) when illegal aliens attempt to purchase a firearm.
According to Ocasio-Cortez, the "pro-ICE" stance isn't something she agrees with.
Again, didn’t threaten a primary.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 2, 2019
I was upset that 26 Dems forced the other 200+ to vote for a pro-ICE provision at the last min without warning.
Because I think an agency that pins children down + forcibly injects them w/ antipsychotic drugs shouldn’t be given more power. https://t.co/1e3cWXzOT6
“At [DHS immigrant detention] facility, children recounted being held down for forcible injections, which medical records show are powerful antipsychotics and sedatives.” https://t.co/mEmgTmQlIT
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 2, 2019
What I DID say was that I had to go back to my district & share the MTR vote to explain why a pro-ICE amendment was slipped into a gun safety law.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 2, 2019
Maybe they’re mad bc I don’t believe pro-ICE expansion votes should be cast in the dark, and people deserve to know what happened.
#MomsDemand & #MarchForOurLives activists, who flew in from across the country, were watching from the gallery, crying + confused.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 2, 2019
I ran up to them *during the vote* and explained that the gotcha amendment pinned gun safety against immigration advocacy. Its intent was to divide.
If you’re mad that I think people SHOULD KNOW when Dems vote to expand ICE powers, then be mad.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 2, 2019
ICE is a dangerous agency with 0 accountability, widespread reporting of rape, abuse of power, + children dying in DHS custody.
Having a D next to your name doesn’t make that right.
Here's the thing: Rep. Collins' amendment wasn't really a "secret." He tried repeatedly to get the amendment added to H.R. 8 but House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) wouldn't allow that to happen. The amendment was originally brought about by Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) during the hearing.
But the most ironic part of that whole ordeal: Steube literally used the same language from a bill introduced by Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) and sponsored by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) during the last Congress.
Although people like AOC want to separate illegal immigration from other policies, they all go hand-in-hand. Collins' amendment wasn't "pro-ICE" but rather pro-safety. You can't say you want to keep guns out of the hands of criminals when you're not willing to include illegal aliens who, by definition, broke the law by coming to America without proper permission and documentation.
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