Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons is demanding that former Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz apologize after he called agents "[President] Donald Trump’s modern-day Gestapo." (Getty Images)
He then proceeded to compare the Trump administration’s ongoing deportations of criminal illegal immigrants to the Nazi secret police force of the 1930s and 1940s.
"I’m gonna start with the flashing red light — Donald Trump’s modern-day Gestapo is scooping folks up off the streets. They’re in unmarked vans, wearing masks, being shipped off to foreign torture dungeons. No chance to mount a defense. Not even a chance to kiss a loved one goodbye. Just grabbed up by masked agents, shoved into those vans and disappeared."
Walz’s comments drew strong condemnation from Lyons, who released a statement on Tuesday in which he pointed out that the commencement fell during National Police Week.
"On the final day of National Police Week — when those brave enough to put on a badge and a uniform mourn their fallen brothers and sisters — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz referred to my professional, hard-working ICE agents and officers as ‘modern-day Gestapo,’" said Lyons.
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White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller has also responded to Walz’s statement, saying in a Sunday X post that "this vile anti-American language can only be construed as inciting insurrection and violence." (JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
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"It seems that Mr. Walz prefers violent criminal aliens are released into Minnesota’s communities," said Lyons, adding: "He should issue an immediate apology to the men and women protecting his communities."
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller has also responded to Walz’s statement, saying in a Sunday X post that "this vile anti-American language can only be construed as inciting insurrection and violence."
Fox News Digital's Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.
Peter Pinedo is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/acting-ice-director-demands-tim-walz-apologize-calling-agents-modern-day-gestapo