Rep. Eric Swalwell sharply criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, accusing them of extreme brutality including dragging women by their hair through the streets and shooting innocent individuals. In a recent statement, the California Democrat highlighted what he described as a lack of accountability within the Department of Homeland Security, contrasting it with punitive actions against a pilot for a minor oversight.
Speaking on the issue, Swalwell stated, “Well, this is why. They’re not being funded right now. Nobody wants to pay for this. But what really jumps off the page of the story and your lead in there is that these guys, these ice agents, they’re dragging women by their hair through the streets, chasing people through the fields, in the farms where they work.” He pointed to specific alleged incidents, claiming ICE agents “shot a nurse named Preeti and a mom named Good.”
Swalwell emphasized the absence of repercussions for the agents involved, remarking, “And the only person in the world who has been held accountable by the Department of Homeland Security is the pilot who somehow forgot to move Kristi Noem blankie. I mean, that’s bananas.” He suggested minimal expected measures like “a slap on the wrist or like a thumbs down on their socials, or the ice officers would not be paid for. Maybe the day that they publicly executed these two individuals?”
The congressman underscored the disparity, noting, “No, there’s been no accountability except to punitively go after a pilot.” His comments frame the incidents as egregious, with ICE operations facing funding challenges amid public reluctance to support them.
Swalwell's remarks draw attention to the alleged actions in urban streets and rural farm fields, where he claims pursuits and violence have targeted workers and civilians. The reference to “publicly executed these two individuals” amplifies his portrayal of the shootings of Preeti and Good as particularly severe offenses warranting swift justice.
The funding shortfall Swalwell mentioned—“They’re not being funded right now. Nobody wants to pay for this”—suggests broader political and budgetary debates surrounding ICE enforcement activities. His rhetoric positions the agency’s operations as not only under-resourced but also unchecked in their execution.
While Swalwell's statement does not specify dates or precise locations for the incidents, it paints a vivid picture of chaos in streets, fields, and farms, calling for accountability that he argues has been selectively applied by the Department of Homeland Security.
