Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania urged Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Wednesday to stay the course with arrests and enforcement, pushing back against growing calls from the left to scale back operations amid renewed scrutiny of the agency.
ICE has faced backlash following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis. According to reports, Good was shot after she blocked a street with her vehicle and began driving away as officers approached. The incident has sparked criticism from Democratic officials and activists, but Fetterman signaled that it should not derail immigration enforcement efforts nationwide.
Appearing on “The Will Cain Show,” Fetterman argued that border security and immigration enforcement should not be treated as partisan issues. He said the country has an obligation to confront unlawful border crossings and criminal behavior directly, regardless of political pressure.
“As a Democrat, it shouldn’t be unreasonable to want to secure our border,” Fetterman told host Will Cain, distancing himself from voices within his party calling for ICE to retreat.
While acknowledging the seriousness of the Minneapolis shooting, Fetterman stressed that tragedy should not become an excuse for abandoning enforcement of immigration laws. He described the incident as deeply unfortunate but emphasized the broader reality surrounding ICE operations and the individuals being arrested.
“What happened in Minneapolis was absolutely tragic,” Fetterman said, while citing statistics reported by The Washington Post. He noted that roughly 67% of those targeted in recent ICE actions had criminal charges, including pending cases. According to Fetterman, that figure underscores the importance of continuing enforcement rather than retreating from it.
“That’s more than two-thirds of the people,” he said. “Now, there are some people that aren’t involved in any kinds of illegal things, but I think two things can be true. Round up all the criminals. Deport them. They shouldn’t have ever been here, and they definitely have to go.”
Fetterman argued that Democrats risk losing credibility by embracing what he described as extremes on immigration. He said enforcement and accountability can coexist with compassion, and rejecting one does not require abandoning the other.
“I strongly reject the extreme on either side about this now,” he said, pointing out that immigration enforcement under Democratic administrations has historically been far more aggressive than many now acknowledge. He referenced earlier remarks on the show noting that President Barack Obama deported millions of people without provoking the same level of outrage now coming from Democrats.
Fetterman’s comments were supported by ICE enforcement data cited in a Washington Post report. From Jan. 20 through Oct. 15, 2025, roughly 36% of individuals arrested by ICE had criminal convictions, while about 30% had pending criminal charges. Combined, that means approximately 66% to 67% of those arrested had either convictions or pending charges.
By highlighting those numbers, Fetterman reinforced his argument that immigration enforcement is largely focused on individuals involved in criminal activity. His remarks set him apart from many in his party and aligned more closely with calls from conservatives who argue that enforcing immigration law and removing criminal offenders is a basic responsibility of government, not a political statement.
