Rep. Torres tells ICE to ‘get out of LA,’ faces conservative backlash
A California Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Norma Torres, is facing backlash from conservatives after posting a controversial message online telling federal agents to “get the f— out” of Los Angeles while arrests of illegal immigrants were taking place. The video posted on TikTok quickly garnered criticism from conservatives on social media, accusing Torres of inciting violence against ICE officers.
Conservative influencers and politicians took to social media to express their outrage over Torres’ comments, with some calling for her expulsion from Congress. The White House director of communications, Steven Cheung, even went as far as to suggest that Torres may be “demonically possessed.” The backlash against Torres intensified as protests and riots erupted in response to the immigration raids.
President Trump responded to the escalating situation by deploying 2,000 National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles to help maintain peace and prevent further violence. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized the need to prevent a repeat of the 2020 unrest that occurred in Minnesota, where the governor allowed the city to “burn.”
During the riots, ICE officers were targeted with violence, including rocks being thrown at them and graffiti inciting violence against them. U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks shared a photo of a Border Patrol agent’s bloody hand, injured by a rock thrown through a windshield. Federal sources indicated that the agents could have been killed by the flying debris, and several arrests were made for assault on federal agents.
In response to the criticism and backlash, Torres’ office has not yet issued a comment on the situation. The tense environment in Los Angeles highlights the ongoing debate and tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and the role of federal agents in enforcing immigration laws. The need to find a balance between enforcing immigration laws and maintaining public safety remains a contentious issue in California and across the country.
