WASHINGTON — The White House is urging Democrats to lessen their verbal assaults on federal immigration authorities, even as left-wing activists are pushing for lawmakers to go further in obstructing the Trump administration — or die trying.
“We certainly call on Democrats to tone down their rhetoric against ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and Border Patrol agents,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday in the daily briefing.
“I would encourage AOC and other Democrats to actually meet with the United States Border Patrol. These are honorable Americans who are simply trying to do their job to enforce the law.”
Earlier this year, “Squad” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) had gotten into a spat with border czar Tom Homan, who accused her of seeking to halt immigration enforcement by advising constituents how to handle when ICE officers come knocking.
Some congressional Democrats have faced arrest or criminal charges for trying to impede immigration officers, but current and former congressional aides told The Post that hasn’t been enough to satisfy some of the more radical members of their party’s left bloc.
Other lawmakers have said grassroots anti-ICE activists want members who are “willing to get shot” for the cause, according to Axios.
“Our own base is telling us that what we’re doing is not good enough,” one Dem told the outlet. “There needs to be blood to grab the attention of the press and the public.”
A second Democratic member said that constituents were venting about the need for “violence … to fight to protect our democracy.”
A former Democratic congressional aide pushed back to The Post: “I don’t believe the Democratic base as a whole is out for blood, looking for members to get shot. The left flank is trying to move us there — and it’s not where we should be going.”
Another current Democratic aide said constituents are “pissed at Trump” and don’t think the party is doing enough to push back against his agenda.
The frustration has exploded at times into the public eye during town hall meetings with constituents in blue districts — and not even Democrats being given more than a two-percentage-point lead in the 2026 generic congressional ballot has brightened things.
Others have urged the party to channel its frustration into court battles, which have had a mixed record of success in thwarting Trump’s agenda.
That’s despite some high-profile clashes with lawmakers. Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) was hit with federal charges for assaulting and interfering with immigration officers outside a Newark detention center in May.
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) was also cuffed last month after barging into a briefing with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem unannounced and advancing toward her before he could be identified. No charges were filed, and the California Democrat later met with Noem privately.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) said last week that some of the “most inspiring things have been when people encircle courtrooms and refuse to allow ICE agents in.”
A Wisconsin judge was indicted in May for allegedly helping an illegal immigrant sneak out the back of her courtroom to evade the authorities.
There have also been random acts of violence against federal law enforcement. On Monday, an unidentified shooter with tactical gear and a rifle opened fire on border agents heading to work in McAllen, Texas, near the Mexico border.
Local cops fired back at the gunman, who is now dead, but one of the police officers was apparently wounded. No federal agent was injured.
