Progressive Rep. Shri Thanedar of Michigan unleashed a fiery attack on U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott during a tense House Homeland Security hearing, accusing federal immigration officers of being “thugs” and warning Scott he “better hope” for a presidential pardon.
The confrontation happened during a hearing titled “Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security: ICE, CBP, and USCIS.” Thanedar pressed Scott and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons over the recent shooting of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers in Minnesota.
Thanedar, who immigrated to the United States from India in the 1980s, told Scott, “You better hope you get pardoned because you will be held accountable for the absolute disregard of the law your agencies have shown over the past year.”
After Scott and Lyons repeatedly defended their officers, Thanedar erupted, saying he was “sick and tired” of what he described as agents “running around in our cities,” accusing them of “illegal activities,” “attacking communities,” and “targeting people for their accents and the color of their skin.” He also claimed they referred to people as “bodies and numbers” and showed “zero remorse” for their actions. Strong words, no doubt — and delivered with all the subtlety of a political sledgehammer.
Thanedar went even further, asking whether President Trump would pardon Scott, Lyons, and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem before leaving office, comparing them to “insurrectionists and political allies.” He directly asked Scott if he believed President Trump would pardon him.
Scott refused to speculate and responded firmly, saying, “I signed up for this job to protect America, and I’m very proud of the service that I provide, and I don’t need a pardon from anybody.”
Thanedar shot back, “Well, you’d better hope so. You better hope you get pardoned,” repeating his claim that the agencies had shown “absolute disregard of the law.”
The congressman also claimed that ICE and CBP have “lost the trust of the American people,” saying millions have taken to the streets to protest their actions. He then announced he had introduced legislation to abolish ICE, declaring, “ICE must be abolished.”
Thanedar added that he co-sponsored a bill to impeach DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, stating, “I believe Kristi Noem must be impeached, and this Congress must do everything in its power to carry out oversight actions against these rogue departments.”
Despite the heated rhetoric, Scott stood his ground and made clear he is proud of his work protecting the country. And while Democrats shout about abolishing agencies and handing out impeachment threats, the officials tasked with securing America’s borders are still showing up to do their jobs — which is exactly what Americans expect from those sworn to protect the nation.
