Joe Biden’s new vice presidential pick, California Sen. Kamala Harris, once charged sworn federal agents protecting the nation’s borders with using the same intimidation tactics as the Ku Klux Klan.
After having him define the tactics used by the Ku Klux Klan as a domestic terrorist operation, in 2018 Harris asked Ronald Vitiello, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), whether he “saw any parallels” between the KKK and ICE. When he flatly denied the insinuation, she asked him repeatedly, “Are you aware there’s a perception?” of such a parallel.
“I do not see a parallel between what is constitutionally mandated as it relates to enforcing the law that puts ICE in the same category as the KKK,” Vitiello said.
FLASHBACK: Joe Biden's running mate Kamala Harris compared ICE officers enforcing immigration law to the KKK.pic.twitter.com/mn5NcT3NZW
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) August 11, 2020
“Are you aware that there’s a perception that ICE is administering its power in a way that is causing fear and intimidation particularly among immigrants and specifically among immigrants coming from Mexico, and Central America?” Harris asked.
“I do not see a parallel between the power and the authority that ICE has to do its job and the agents and officers who do it professionally and excellently with lots of compassion,” Vitiello asserted. “There is a lot of perceptions in the media and the public that are incorrect.”
Harris was officially declared Democratic presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden’s running mate Tuesday.
