A senior U.S. lawmaker running for the Senate has drawn national attention after comparing American immigration enforcement officers to slave patrols, a remark that has reopened debate about race, state authority and historical memory in the United States.
Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat seeking higher office, made the comparison while discussing recent operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws.
In an interview with CBS News, Crockett said, “When I talk about the fact that what I see from ICE right now looks like slave patrols. As an African American woman, what I am doing is I’m framing things in the frame of thought that I can associate them with.”
She explained that her reference was rooted in American history. Slave patrols in the 18th and 19th centuries were organized groups that tracked, detained and returned enslaved Africans who tried to escape. Crockett described them as “some sort of military-like policing force that was going out and grabbing and disappearing people based on their skin color. People were having to walk around and show their papers.”
Her remarks were met with swift criticism from Republican leaders. Senator John Cornyn described the comments as “completely unacceptable,” arguing that such comparisons undermine law enforcement officers carrying out laws approved by Congress. He emphasized the importance of compliance with officers during enforcement actions, referencing an incident in Minneapolis that influenced Crockett’s response.
The debate intensified during a public forum with State Representative James Talarico, where Crockett likened ICE’s door-to-door operations to tactics used in Nazi Germany. Talarico also questioned ICE’s methods, calling for reforms that prioritize public safety over what he described as aggressive enforcement practices.
Crockett has previously faced criticism over her language. In a 2024 Vanity Fair interview, she used the term “slave mentality” while discussing immigration debates within Latino communities. She later clarified that she was speaking about shared struggles among marginalized groups and accused critics of misrepresenting her comments.
Supporters argue that her statements reflect lived experience and draw attention to patterns they believe disproportionately affect communities of color. Critics say the comparisons are extreme and risk deepening divisions at a time when immigration policy is already politically sensitive.