Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) does not care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican, if you vote in support of a corrupt law enforcement agency like ICE, you should be held accountable. And she explained why in a Twitter thread on Saturday.
Earlier this week, the House voted to pass two gun bills that will strengthen background checks in this country to prevent future gun violence and mass shootings.
Unfortunately, a small group of Democrats joined Republicans to attach an amendment to the bill requiring ICE be notified if an undocumented immigrant tries to buy a gun, tainting the legislation in the process and forcing over 200 Democrats to pass the bill anyway with the added measure.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) ripped the caucus a new one behind closed doors, as did Ocasio-Cortez, who reportedly threatened to help more progressive challengers unseat the treacherous moderates.
Ocasio-Cortez and many other Democrats oppose ICE or have called for it to be disbanded altogether. Many Democrats have been bellyaching about her calling out fellow Democrats. But AOC explained why she is holding Democrats accountable and why she has no intention of backing down.
First, she denied threatening a primary before pointing out why ICE needs to be shut down or heavily reformed.
Again, didn’t threaten a primary.
I was upset that 26 Dems forced the other 200+ to vote for a pro-ICE provision at the last min without warning.
Because I think an agency that pins children down + forcibly injects them w/ antipsychotic drugs shouldn’t be given more power. https://t.co/1e3cWXzOT6
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 2, 2019
“At [DHS immigrant detention] facility, children recounted being held down for forcible injections, which medical records show are powerful antipsychotics and sedatives.” https://t.co/mEmgTmQlIT
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 2, 2019
She then noted that her vote to pass the background checks bill forces her to explain to her constituents why a pro-ICE amendment became part of it, slamming moderate lawmakers for sneaking it in, the opposite of transparency.
What I DID say was that I had to go back to my district & share the MTR vote to explain why a pro-ICE amendment was slipped into a gun safety law.
Maybe they’re mad bc I don’t believe pro-ICE expansion votes should be cast in the dark, and people deserve to know what happened.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 2, 2019
#MomsDemand & #MarchForOurLives activists, who flew in from across the country, were watching from the gallery, crying + confused.
I ran up to them *during the vote* and explained that the gotcha amendment pinned gun safety against immigration advocacy. Its intent was to divide.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 2, 2019
Ocasio-Cortez concluded by warning moderate Democrats that she will not hesitate to hold them accountable for their votes even though they belong to the same party.
If you’re mad that I think people SHOULD KNOW when Dems vote to expand ICE powers, then be mad.
ICE is a dangerous agency with 0 accountability, widespread reporting of rape, abuse of power, + children dying in DHS custody.
Having a D next to your name doesn’t make that right.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 2, 2019
And that’s the way it should be. Ocasio-Cortez got elected by telling voters that she will hold everyone accountable, not just Republicans. She intends to be a watchdog within the Democratic Party to make sure they fight for progressive ideas, one of which is that law enforcement should not be allowed to abuse children no matter where they come from.
ICE has terrorized immigrants across the country since President Donald Trump took office. It’s time to hold them accountable for their actions. And any Democrat who doesn’t agree can expect to earn the popular Ocasio-Cortez’s wrath. This is why the people love her so much.
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