Michigan Senate Candidate Claims ICE Has Nothing to Do with Immigration
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, positioning himself for a U.S. Senate run in Michigan, made shocking statements claiming Immigration and Customs Enforcement has nothing to do with immigration. The former gubernatorial candidate dismissed ICE’s core mission while demonstrating apparent confusion about basic geography.
In video remarks circulating online, El-Sayed declared that ICE has nothing to do with immigration or border security. He attempted to justify this claim by noting Michigan’s distance from the southern border, seemingly unaware that ICE operates nationwide to enforce immigration laws.
Abdul El-Sayed says ICE — which is arresting and deporting criminal illegals — "has nothing to do with immigration."
EL-SAYED: "Like I don't know, I learned maps…Michigan…nowhere near the Southern Border."
This is a serious Democrat candidate for U.S. Senate… pic.twitter.com/0GAZRueiuh
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) April 13, 2026
“Everybody who has looked at this honestly understands that ICE has nothing to do with this other border has nothing to do with immigration,” El-Sayed stated. He continued with confused geographical references, saying “like I don’t know how to learn maps. Michigan know where near the southern border.”
The candidate characterized ICE as “weaponizing the paramilitary force against the Constitution itself,” revealing a fundamental misunderstanding of federal immigration enforcement.
ICE maintains field offices across all 50 states, including Detroit, where agents regularly arrest criminal illegal immigrants. The agency’s name literally stands for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, highlighting its primary mission under the Department of Homeland Security.
Federal immigration enforcement extends far beyond border checkpoints. ICE conducts interior operations targeting individuals who entered illegally and committed additional crimes, including violent felons, gang members, and drug traffickers. These operations protect American communities regardless of their proximity to international borders.
Michigan has seen significant ICE enforcement activity. Recent operations have resulted in arrests of individuals with criminal records including assault, drug trafficking, and other serious offenses. The Detroit field office regularly coordinates with local law enforcement to identify and remove dangerous illegal immigrants.
El-Sayed’s comments reflect broader Democrat attempts to reframe immigration enforcement as illegitimate government overreach. While President Trump fulfills campaign promises to increase deportations of criminal illegal immigrants, progressive candidates like El-Sayed paint legitimate law enforcement as constitutional violations.
The former state health official ran unsuccessfully for Michigan governor in 2018, positioning himself as a progressive activist. His Senate ambitions place him in competition for a seat crucial to Republican control of the chamber.
Working-class Michigan voters have witnessed ICE operations firsthand. They understand that immigration enforcement protects their neighborhoods from criminal networks operating throughout the country, not just at border crossings.
Conservatives argue El-Sayed’s rhetoric exemplifies Democrat disconnect from law enforcement realities. His apparent ignorance about ICE’s mission raises questions about his qualifications for federal office, where immigration policy decisions affect national security.
The candidate’s geography confusion compounds his credibility problems. Claiming Michigan’s distance from the southern border negates ICE operations ignores how illegal immigration affects interior states through drug trafficking, human smuggling, and criminal activity.
ICE’s Detroit operations have disrupted significant criminal enterprises involving illegal immigrants. Recent arrests included individuals wanted for serious violent crimes who had evaded initial border encounters. These operations demonstrate why interior enforcement remains essential to public safety.
El-Sayed’s attempt to rebrand ICE as a “paramilitary force” attacking the Constitution misrepresents legitimate federal law enforcement. ICE agents operate under congressional authority and judicial oversight, following established legal procedures for arrests and deportations.
Michigan voters deserve candidates who understand basic government functions. Immigration enforcement protects American workers from unfair labor competition while removing dangerous criminals from communities nationwide.
The disconnect between El-Sayed’s rhetoric and immigration enforcement realities reflects broader progressive attempts to gaslight Americans about border security. His claims ignore ICE’s vital role protecting public safety through professional law enforcement operations.
As Michigan considers its next senator, El-Sayed’s immigration comments reveal a candidate fundamentally opposed to enforcing federal laws designed to protect American citizens from criminal illegal immigrants operating throughout the republic.
