Written by Ashton Snyder on
 June 10, 2025

Harris faces backlash over ICE raid protests in Los Angeles

Former Vice President Kamala Harris ignited a firestorm of criticism after characterizing violent anti-ICE demonstrations in Los Angeles as "overwhelmingly peaceful" while blaming the Trump administration for the unrest. The statement came as National Guard troops deployed to the city following days of escalating protests.

According to Fox News, Harris posted her remarks Sunday as riots continued across Los Angeles, where protesters opposed federal agents arresting illegal immigrants. President Donald Trump's decision to send in National Guard troops sparked additional controversy among Democratic officials.

Harris, who described Los Angeles as her home, claimed that deploying the National Guard represented "a dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos" and accused the administration of pursuing a "cruel, calculated agenda to spread panic and division" rather than focusing on public safety.

Conservatives slam Harris response

Conservative critics immediately pounced on Harris's statement, with many suggesting her remarks exemplified why voters rejected her presidential bid last November. The backlash focused particularly on her characterization of the demonstrations as "overwhelmingly peaceful."

Fox News contributor Guy Benson wrote that "the country really dodged a bullet in November" and added, "Their official position is that they're appalled by what's happening in Los Angeles…because of Trump and ICE, not the violent rioters. In its current form, this party cannot be salvaged."

Fellow Fox News contributor Katie Pavlich expressed similar sentiments, thanking Americans for "employing brain cells and rejecting this woman's quest to become president of the United States." Other critics, including social media account LibsofTikTok, countered Harris's "mostly peaceful" claim by sharing images of burning cars and attacks on law enforcement.

White House defends ICE operations

White House officials forcefully rejected Harris's characterization of events, with Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson delivering a particularly pointed rebuke of the former vice president's comments.

"Everyone already knows that Kamala Harris supports violent criminal illegal aliens -- that's why the American people resoundingly rejected her in November," Jackson said in a statement to Fox News Digital. She added that Harris's tenure was "defined by one humiliating failure after another" and suggested she should "slink back into irrelevancy."

The riots erupted as ICE officials carried out plans to remove individuals illegally residing in Los Angeles, which had declared itself a "sanctuary" for illegal immigrants shortly before Trump's inauguration in January. According to ICE, the operation targeted "the worst of the worst" criminal illegal immigrants, including murderers and sex offenders.

Violence targets federal agents

The demonstrations quickly turned violent, with protesters targeting ICE officers with rocks and other projectiles while vandalizing property with graffiti calling for violence against federal agents.

U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks shared a photo showing one agent's bloody hand after a rock shattered a windshield. Federal sources indicated that flying debris could have potentially killed agents, and several officers reported injuries during the confrontations.

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin questioned why Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass seemed more concerned about those being deported than public safety, saying, "These rioters in Los Angeles are fighting to keep rapists, murderers, and other violent criminals loose on Los Angeles streets."

Trump deployed approximately 2,000 National Guard troops to restore order, a move criticized by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom characterized the immigration enforcement actions as "chaotic and reckless" while accusing Trump of eroding trust and tearing families apart.

Deepening political divisions

The Los Angeles riots highlight the growing political divide over immigration enforcement policies in the United States, with the Trump administration pressing forward on deportation priorities while Democratic officials resist federal actions.

Harris's statement placed responsibility for the unrest squarely on Trump and ICE operations rather than on those engaged in violent activities. "Protest is a powerful tool — essential in the fight for justice," she wrote, adding that she continues "to support the millions of Americans who are standing up to protect our most fundamental rights and freedoms."

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About Ashton Snyder

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