[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 25, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3529-S3530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                  Immigration and Customs Enforcement

  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. President, every day, our Nation's ICE officers 
are putting their lives on the line to get criminal illegal aliens out 
of the communities, and I wanted to see firsthand what they were going 
through. So this past weekend, I joined a ride-along with ICE agents 
outside of Nashville.
  Until you are actually on the ground, you do not appreciate the 
amount of work that goes into their operations. They are identifying 
the criminal illegal aliens. They are finding out where they are, and 
they are figuring out the safest way to surveil them and also to 
apprehend them.
  And it is so much more than a full-time job. As I visited with the 
agents, what I found out is that nearly every one of them is working 75 
and 80 hours a week, dealing with some of the worst criminals 
imaginable.
  Now, when I joined the agents for the ride-along, they were targeting 
a criminal illegal alien who had been convicted of child sexual abuse. 
The agents could see a child on the individual's property, but they 
could not enter the home because they are not given a warrant. Instead, 
they have to wait until the criminal comes outside or is in a public 
space, and then they are able to apprehend him.
  That is why it is so important that local law enforcement work with 
our ICE agents.
  In Democrat cities with sanctuary policies, however, our Federal law 
enforcement is facing an uphill battle. Recently, amid violent anti-ICE 
riots in Los Angeles, a mob surrounded ICE agents who had taken an 
illegal alien into custody. Amid the commotion, a group of men jumped 
out of a van and grabbed the suspect, helping him flee from the agents. 
According to recent reports, LAPD refused to send out an alert to track 
down the vehicle. They didn't want to run afoul of LA's sanctuary city 
policies.
  What we also know is these ICE agents nationwide have seen a 500-
percent increase in attacks against them.
  Now, all of this should not be happening in our Nation's cities, 
which is why Congress should do everything that we can to support the 
ICE agents and work to make America safe again.
  My CLEAR Act would ensure that State and local law enforcement 
officials have the explicit authority to assist the Federal Government 
in our immigration enforcement efforts, codifying the 287(g) program 
that is absolutely so critical to local law enforcement.
  I also introduced legislation that would make it illegal to dox 
Federal immigration officials who are working to protect our 
communities.
  Last month, Nashville's Democratic mayor did exactly that, handing 
information about Federal law enforcement agents on a silver platter to 
criminal gangs. Meanwhile, House Democratic

[[Page S3530]]

Leader Jeffries said ICE agents should be unmasked ``no matter what it 
takes, no matter how long it takes.''
  This appalling effort from Democrats comes at a time when, as I said, 
these agents are facing a 500-percent increase in assaults--500 
percent.
  Just last week, a criminal illegal alien in Minnesota used his car to 
drag an ICE officer 50 yards while that criminal was trying to evade 
arrest.
  President Trump and Republicans understand that law enforcement 
deserves our unwavering support. That is why we are going to do what it 
takes to help them.