Latest news with #NormaTorres
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pomona Congresswoman blasts ICE over denied access, gas deployment
Rep. Norma Torres of Pomona is demanding a federal investigation into actions taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during a June 7 oversight visit to the Roybal Federal Building in downtown L.A., alleging unlawful obstruction of access and the use of chemical agents on a peaceful congressional delegation. In a formal letter sent to ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, the Southern California Democrat said ICE falsely claimed more than 1,000 protesters were present that day – an assertion Torres says was used to justify deploying chemical agents that caused her to seek emergency medical treatment and begin respiratory medication. According to Torres, the delegation included four members of Congress, along with legal counsel, staff, immigrant rights advocates and members of the media. Federal law prohibits ICE from denying access to members of Congress and specifically guarantees congressional entry into detention facilities. Torres says ICE's actions represent 'a direct violation of the law and a breach of transparency and accountability.' 'This false characterization appears designed to justify the dangerous and unjustified deployment of chemical agents,' Torres wrote. 'These actions have not only endangered lives but have broken the public's trust and violated the law.' Torres further criticized ICE for a failure to maintain accurate and timely updates to its Online Detainee Locator System, which she said has left families in the dark and scrambling to locate detained loved ones — sometimes resorting to missing persons reports or hospital visits. In her letter, Torres demanded a full investigation into the events of June 7, including identification of personnel responsible for the use of force, legal justification for the denial of entry, and a review of detainee communication systems. The Roybal Federal Building has become a flashpoint during recent immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles, drawing protests and national scrutiny. ICE has not yet publicly responded to Torres' letter or accusations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Incensed House Democrats plan ICE funding war
House Democrats, incensed at being repeatedly denied access to ICE facilities, are warming to the idea of using the appropriations process to force policy changes at the agency if they retake Congress. Why it matters: ICE-focused protests and pressure from their grassroots are forcing Democrats to inch away from their instinctively defensive crouch on immigration. But there is internal division on how far to go. "You've got a situation where our base is demanding more and more of us every day," said one House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity. The lawmaker added that "a number of us have been told by constituents that we have to be willing to get shot" while trying to conduct oversight at ICE facilities and "be able to make news out of it." Many Democrats are still scarred by GOP attacks on the #AbolishICE movement and hesitant to take steps that appear to be aimed at dismantling or downsizing the agency. State of play: Just over the weekend, House Democrats in California and New York were refused access to ICE facilities in their respective states to perform checks on detained migrants. Reps. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) and Norma Torres (D-Calif.) have alleged that ICE officials even sprayed "some type of irritant into the air to push us back." Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) is being prosecuted by the Justice Department for allegedly assaulting law enforcement — which she denies — during a visit to an ICE facility in her state during which she was initially refused entry. What they're saying: Congressional Hispanic Caucus chair Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) said he believes Democrats should "reassess the funding possibilities. Absolutely." He said of being denied access to an ICE facility this weekend: "They ask for money, right? And then ... I go there and they don't allow us to go and check out the facilities." Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), a member of Democratic leadership, told Axios, "Everybody's on board with the fact that what's going on right now is not right, and ... reform is needed." "This administration is ... rounding people up by mistake — they don't care," said Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), chair of the center-left New Democrat Coalition. "We can't let that happen." Zoom in: Key Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee signaled that ICE is on the table as part of a broader effort to scrutinize Trump administration spending. "There will be a review of everything ... looking at what are the kinds of things we can do to get our government back on track," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the panel's ranking member. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), the ranking member of the homeland security subcommittee, told Axios: "We're going to look at all funding. ... What's happening right now is really bad." Between the lines: A clash is already brewing over how far to go — with some progressives eyeing actual funding cuts as moderate border hawks draw a bright red line in opposition to that idea. "Some of us would like to see it completely broken down ... I've been talking about reducing funding," said Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.). Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) criticized "hypocrisy" among Democrats, "where folks want to campaign against ICE when we're in the minority, but then when we're in the majority, we continue to funnel unfettered funds with absolutely no guardrails." Centrist Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), a member of the Appropriations Committee, told Axios he is "sure there will be a push," but he "will not support reducing ICE" funding. The bottom line: Even centrists like Cuellar aren't ruling out supporting potential policy riders to appropriations bills to try to reform the agency. "It's a policy. The men and women, they're the same. It just depends what policy comes down," he told Axios. Ramirez, for her part, was clear-eyed that "you're not going to see an abolishing of ICE" even though "some of us might want that."
Fox News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
California Democrat demands ICE 'retreat' so locals can be 'given the opportunity to restore order'
A Democratic lawmaker demanded on Tuesday that Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) leave Los Angeles so that "locals" can restore law and order. "This is the chaos that the president created when he sent an unchecked group of ICE officers, agents to a community to profile and do, you know, these raids that they have not had a warrant," Rep. Norma Torres, D-Calif., said during an interview on MSNBC's "Chris Jansing Reports." Riots in L.A. began over the weekend as the city's mayor, Karen Bass, called out President Donald Trump for ICE raids detaining illegal immigrants. Footage of the riots shows people spitting on and burning the American flag as well as assaulting police officers and setting cars on fire. Rioters also smashed the windows of the Los Angeles Police Department's headquarters. Guest host Christina Ruffini asked Torres about the "tempo of ICE activity you're hearing about in and around your district, and what's the reaction from constituents?" Torres, whose district includes part of Los Angeles County, said she thinks the "locals" should be in charge of reinstating law and order because ICE is racial profiling. "They are not asking for specific names," the lawmaker claimed of the ICE raids. "They are simply going after people because of the way they look. And this must stop. The president must call back these ICE agents. They must retreat in order for the locals to be given the opportunity to restore order, because that is what we are demanding right now." The California Democrat also described her constituents as "panicked" due to the "scare tactics" being used. "They are worried about their families," Torres said. "They're worried about the children going to school, their spouses not coming home. In many cases, people aren't reporting crimes that are occurring to them, whether they are witnesses or victims, because they are too afraid to engage with any law enforcement agency." Trump has defended his move to deploy the National Guard to L.A., saying in a Monday post on TruthSocial that it was a "great decision," and that "If we had not done so, Los Angeles would have been completely obliterated." Trump also announced Monday that he is deploying hundreds of U.S. Marines to L.A. to respond to the riots.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rep. Norma Torres: Let the LAPD do their job for protests
Rep. Norma Torres, D-Calif., joins NewsNation to discuss protests in Los Angeles over the Trump administration's handling of mass deportations, particularly involving ICE. In response, the White House is deploying 700 Marines to the area. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
California Democrat Norma Torres blasted over foul-mouthed 'demonic' message to ICE amid riots
Outraged Americans are calling for 'demonic' Rep. Norma Torres to resign after she issued a foul-mouthed message to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Torres took to TikTok on Friday as riots were breaking out across Los Angeles, demanding immigration officers leave the city. 'ICE get the f*** out of LA so that order can be restored,' the congresswoman said in the video, which has since gone viral and been re-shared on multiple platforms. Conservatives were quick to blast Torres (D-Calif.) over the remark, with many suggesting she is a 'lunatic' and should face 'consequences' for 'fighting against the legal actions of the federal government'. White House communications director Steven Cheung even responded to the clip, simply commenting: 'Demonic possession.' Democrats blame President Donald Trump and his sweeping immigration crackdown for the violence that erupted in downtown LA over the weekend. Rioters looted downtown businesses, blocked off a major freeway, set cars on fire and wreaked havoc across LA, prompting Trump to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to the city. California Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to file a lawsuit against Trump in response to the administration's order yo deploy troops to confront the rioters. LAPD officers hit protesters with batons as violence that erupted in downtown LA on Sunday Torres, who was born in Guatemala and became an US citizen in the 1990s, is among the liberals battling backlash today following the riots. Furious social media users have slammed her character and claimed she should no longer hold a seat in Congress after she publicly denounced ICE efforts. Arizona state senator Wendy Rogers led the calls for her resignation in a tweet on X, stating: 'Oof. Expel her from Congress.' 'I think there should be legal consequences for those people who are actively fighting against the legal actions of the federal government,' echoed a user, whose profile indicates he is a conservative Baptist pastor. 'Especially against those like her who are supposed to BE the federal government.' 'She needs to be removed,' one X user added, while another wrote: 'So much for her oath to the Constitution…..' Some went as far as suggesting that Torres' remarks contributed to the rioting. Conservatives were quick to blast Torres (D-Calif.) over the remark, with many suggesting she is a 'lunatic' and should face 'consequences' for 'fighting against the legal actions of the federal government' 'Can people like her not please be arrested for incitement. We have laws against this!! When are we going to start enforcing them?' one user urged. 'Arrest her for inciting violence!!' added another. Other users suggested Torres did not actually want the rioting to stop, with one tweeting: 'If Norma Torres wanted order to be restored, she would not side with the protestors waving other countries' flags.' 'She's literally calling for federal law enforcement to abandon their post - encouraging lawlessness,' echoed another. A representative for Torres did not immediately respond to Daily Mail's request for comment. Law enforcement presence remains heavy in LA today, with police cars blocking the street in front of the federal detention facility that was a focus of the protests. While much of the city was spared from any violence, clashes swept through several downtown blocks and a handful of other places. Sunday was the third and most intense day of demonstrations against Trump's immigration crackdown in the region, as the arrival of around 300 Guard troops spurred anger and fear among many residents. US officials said about 1,000 National Guard members were in the city under federal orders by midday Monday. The full 2,000 members authorized by the president were expected to be on the ground by the end of the day. It could take days to clear the debris from burned cars and to clean off or paint over graffiti sprayed on City Hall and other buildings near the detention facility. Many protesters dispersed by Sunday night as police declared an unlawful assembly, a precursor to officers moving in and arresting those who refuse to leave. Some of those who stayed threw objects at police from behind a makeshift barrier. Others hurled chunks of concrete, rocks, electric scooters and fireworks at California Highway Patrol officers and their vehicles parked on the closed southbound 101 Freeway. Officers ran under an overpass to take cover at one point. Trump said Monday that the city would have been 'completely obliterated' if he had not deployed the Guard. Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, the president accused Newsom and the LA Mayor Karen Bass of lying by saying Guard troops were not necessary. The Guard was deployed specifically to protect federal buildings, including the downtown detention center where protesters concentrated. Police officers stand near a California National Guard vehicle at a roadblock in downtown Los Angeles on Modnay, following a night of protests in response to federal immigration operations Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said officers were 'overwhelmed' by the remaining protesters. He said they included regular agitators who show up at demonstrations to cause trouble. Several dozen people were arrested throughout the weekend. One was detained Sunday for throwing a Molotov cocktail at police and another for ramming a motorcycle into a line of officers. Newsom called on Trump to rescind the Guard deployment in a letter Sunday afternoon, calling it a 'serious breach of state sovereignty.' The governor, who was was in Los Angeles meeting with local law enforcement and officials, also told protesters that they were playing into Trump's plans and would face arrest for violence or property destruction. 'Trump wants chaos and he's instigated violence,' he said. 'Stay peaceful. Stay focused. Don't give him the excuse he's looking for.' McDonnell pushed back against claims by the Trump administration that the LAPD had failed to help federal authorities when protests broke out Friday after a series of immigration raids. He said his department responded as quickly as it could and had not been notified in advance of the raids. Newsom, meanwhile, has repeatedly said that California authorities had the situation under control. He mocked Trump for posting a congratulatory message to the Guard on social media before troops had even arrived in Los Angeles, and he told MSNBC that Trump never floated deploying the Guard during a Friday phone call. He even called Trump a 'stone cold liar.'
