First out gay immigrant elected to Congress slams Trump over ICE raids

US Congress’ first out gay immigrant member has slammed Donald Trump for “causing terror” with the administration’s continued ICE raids.

Californian Democrat Robert Garcia sent a powerful message to the US government this week after condemning its inhumane treatment of individuals detained by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Since Trump’s rise to power in January, the administration had implemented several anti-immigration policies bolstering federal agents and allowing them to conduct raids against migrants in the US.

Following a field hearing earlier this week, Garcia shamed the Trump administration for “causing terror not just in Los Angeles, but across the country”.

Garcia went on: “We know that over 170 US citizens have been detained without any due process throughout this entire action that is being laid out by this administration. We know that there are hundreds of other migrants, undocumented workers, people that are residents that have temporary permits to be here have also been detained.

“We also know that our Constitution provides due process for all persons, citizens and non-citizens alike.”

The President attempted to deploy over 4,000 members of the National Guard to Los Angeles earlier this year amid protests against immigration raids by ICE Agents.

Since then, he has deployed troops in Washington DC, Memphis, and Chicago. The administration is also looking into deploying troops in other US cities.

Congress heard from individuals detained during the field hearing, with some alleging mistreatment, a lack of due process and abuse.

Some say they were detained on their way to work and left traumatised, while others shared emotional accounts of their experiences in ICE detention centres.

Several immigrants, many of which are LGBTQ+, have alleged that they faced abuse, sexual harassment, and medical neglect while under ICE detention.

Detainees in South Louisiana claimed that, while under ICE detention in the state’s Ice Processing Center (SLIPC), they were subjected to abusive treatment by staff members.