Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI), who is of Indian descent, is featured in a video clip that is currently going viral on social media delivering a talk during an anti-ICE protest, promising the crowd he will not allow any new Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers to be built in his district. In the clip, Thanedar, who can barely speak English, proclaims, “No ICE detention centers!”
“We don’t want any concentration camps!” Thanedar shrieks into a microphone to the crowd gathered to protest in favor of illegal immigration. “This is a district that I proudly represent, and I will not let any detention centers in my district, in the district that I represent,” he concludes in the video. This is not Thanedar’s first meltdown over ICE and the Trump administration’s push to deport illegal aliens.
The Michigan Democrat previously introduced a piece of legislation that would abolish ICE, stating at a press conference, “We must reform ICE, but it looks at this stage, folks, that ICE is beyond reform. ICE is really out of control.” He added, “We need to make ICE go away. We do not need the murderers. We do not need this paramilitary organization’s members on our streets terrorizing U.S. citizens and immigrants alike.”
According to a report from The Times of India, Thanedar made his comments shortly after the fatal shooting deaths of 37-year-old Renee Good. Good was killed after she impeded an active ICE operation and attempted to run over one of the agents, ignoring repeated orders to stop the car and exit the vehicle. Thanedar put out a press release following Good’s death.
“The tragic death of Renee Good in Minneapolis, a 37-year-old mother fatally shot by an ICE agent, shows that ICE cannot be reformed and must be abolished. The Abolish ICE Act is a step toward justice, accountability, and a more human approach to immigration policy,” the statement read. Thanedar then slammed then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, saying she should “face the consequences” and be impeached.
The report then cited polling from a survey by Economist/YouGov that said 46% of those who responded support abolishing ICE, while 43% oppose the idea. Congressional Democrats have also suggested a number of measures to supposedly rein in the agency, including ending qualified immunity for ICE officers and withholding funding increases.
One individual who commented on the video posted by LibsofTikTok on Facebook joked about Thanedar’s accent, saying, “Guy in the back telling his friend, ‘man, I don’t know wtf he’s saying, but we gettin that $25/hour right now so we good…'” Another wisecracked, “His name is Bob and how may he be helping you?” A third person said, “I pushed number 7 for English, but still got this.”
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Another humorous poster said, “I know I got a call from him just yesterday about extending my car warranty.” Someone else noted that Thanedar was slurring some of his words, writing, “Why is he giving off like he had a sip or two before giving his speech, vibes? Or is it just me?” One commenter simply said, “Customer Service.”
Featured Image: screenshot from embedded video