New York City, New York – Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) sparked sharp criticism Tuesday after suggesting that Americans could be justified in using lethal force against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents if they believed they were being attacked by masked individuals. Nadler made the remarks during a House Judiciary Committee hearing amid growing protests over ICE tactics and recent fatal encounters involving federal agents.
“If you were attacked by a masked person, you might think you were being kidnapped,” Nadler said. “You would be justified in shooting the person to protect yourself.” He framed his comments as a defense of self-defense rights, arguing that aggressive immigration enforcement has created fear and confusion, particularly when agents operate with masks and conduct raids without clear identification.
Nadler described what he called “fascism in our streets,” citing incidents in which ICE agents allegedly entered homes without warrants and detained individuals, including American citizens. He referenced recent fatal shootings, including the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, which have fueled nationwide protests and renewed calls from some Democrats to abolish ICE.
The Department of Homeland Security has reported a sharp rise in violence targeting ICE personnel, including a 1,300% increase in assaults and a 3,200% spike in vehicular attacks. Nadler did not directly address those statistics during his remarks.
Republican leaders swiftly condemned Nadler’s comments. Vice President JD Vance called the remarks “demented,” while Donald Trump Jr. labeled them “despicable behavior from an elected official.” The controversy comes as immigration enforcement remains a central political flashpoint ahead of the midterm elections.
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