A woke Rhode Island representative who was arrested for drunk driving in April 2025 got destroyed by the Trump Administration after he called Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents “Nazi ICE thugs” on social media and said he was going to “confront” them in person, leading to a fierce rebuttal and threat of arrest from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
For background, on July 30, 2025, Rhode Island State Rep. Enrique Sanchez (D) went on an unhinged rant on X, telling his followers that the day was coming “soon” when he would face down ICE agents “in person” and have a “day of reckoning,” seemingly threatening physical violence. In response, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin roasted him online, calling him cowardly and warning that he would be arrested if he tried to confront ICE agents.
Writing on X on July 30, Rep. Sanchez said, “It will be soon the day that I confront these Nazi ICE thugs in person for terrorizing our communities,” adding, “It will be a day of reckoning and no going back.” Just a day later, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin shot back, writing, “Cowards like this Rhode Island State Rep hide behind their keyboards and threaten the brave men and women of ICE.” She continued, “If you lay a hand on ICE law enforcement we will arrest you and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
In response to his inflammatory statements, the Rhode Island Republican Party called for the “immediate censure” of Rep. Sanchez on August 2, 2025, with the state’s GOP Chairman Joe Powers saying of Sanchez, “He’s openly tracking federal agents as they perform their sworn duties.”
Continuing, Chairman Powers said that Rep. Sanchez’s comments had “moved beyond a political outburst,” adding, “This is dangerous, calculated behavior from an elected official. He’s not calling for peaceful protest or legal reform. He’s stalking law enforcement and egging on violence.” Powers continued, “Frankly, someone with his track record with law enforcement should steer clear, not antagonize the very people keeping our communities safe.”
Moreover, Rep. Sanchez doubled down on his anti-ICE rhetoric after the calls for him to be censured, saying, “I’m not going to apologize for using my platform to speak up for my constituents, my city and my state.” He continued, “The fact that the so-called ‘party of free speech’ is calling for me to be censured for my tweets is just the latest example of their hypocrisy.” In response, a commenter with the X handle Christoper wrote, “Of course you won’t apologize. You’re too ignorant and immature to do so.
You need to be barred from holding any political office.”
In another subsequent post, Rep. Sanchez dug the hole even deeper, writing, “Maybe I should be another typical politician who stays quiet and doesn’t speak up for his constituents, communities, the marginalized and the oppressed during a time of high tensions and division. Maybe I should stop working the way I do and stop moving the way I move.” He continued, “I’m not benefiting financially, emotionally, mentally, materially etc.”
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In addition to taunting ICE agents on X, in April 2025, Rep. Sanchez was arrested after being caught driving drunk and refusing to take a breathalyzer test. However, according to press accounts, a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence was dismissed due to being a “first offense.” However, Sanchez was reportedly instructed to enter alcohol rehab, perform 10 hours of community service, and pay hundreds of dollars in fees following the incident.
Featured image credit: RILegislature.gov