House Republicans mull consequences for Delaney Hall Dems who ‘stormed’ ICE center
House Republicans are warning that consequences could be in store for three Democratic colleagues accused by the Trump administration of “storming” a detention facility in defense of illegal immigrants last week. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., outlined three possible disciplinary actions that the House could take, including censure, removal from committees, or even expulsion.
Johnson indicated that censure, a symbolic rebuke with no further repercussions, was likely the most appropriate action in this situation. However, he acknowledged that expulsion would require a two-thirds vote, which is unlikely given the small margins in Congress. Other House Republicans, including Rep. Lauren Boebert and Rep. Marlin Stutzman, called for more severe punishments such as criminal charges or censure at the least.
The incident in question occurred when three Democratic members of Congress, along with Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and other protesters, rushed into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in northern New Jersey. The lawmakers, Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, LaMonica McIver, and Rob Menendez, claimed they were exercising their right to be present on federal grounds and accused ICE agents of mistreating them and protesters.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused the Democrats of putting law enforcement and detainees at risk by “storming” the facility. Both Democrats and Republicans have exchanged accusations of assault following the incident. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., warned Republicans that any attempts to sanction or arrest the lawmakers would be a “red line” for Democrats.
Some House Republicans, including Rep. John McGuire and Rep. Buddy Carter, have expressed support for punishing the Democratic lawmakers involved in the incident. Carter even introduced a resolution to strip the trio of their committee assignments. Democrats, however, have defended the lawmakers’ actions and pushed back against any potential disciplinary measures.
As discussions continue within Congress about how to address the incident, tensions between Republicans and Democrats are running high. The outcome of this situation could have significant implications for the future of Congressional decorum and the handling of similar incidents in the future. Elizabeth Elkind, a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, is closely following the developments surrounding this issue.
