Rep. Gil Cisneros (D-CA) condemned President Trump’s immigration actions in a speech on the House floor earlier this month.
He accused the administration of overreach and fearmongering, targeting communities in Southern California without proper legal procedures.
“ICE is rounding up individuals off the street with no warrants, including children,” said Cisneros. “This isn’t law and order. It’s political theater.”
His remarks followed a weekend of reported ICE activity in the region. The congressman claimed the operations were done without coordination from local police or state officials.
“Local and state law enforcement did not ask for assistance,” he said. “Donald Trump is escalating the situation and making it more dangerous for everyone.”
Criticism Over Military Involvement
Cisneros also challenged the president’s move to involve the military.
He pointed to Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and, more recently, the Marines.
“This is not the mission of the Marines,” he said. “They are not trained for this.”
He warned that placing active-duty military personnel in domestic immigration enforcement could lead to confrontations and confusion.
“The National Guard is standing on the sidelines,” he added. “Local law enforcement is handling things. The Marines have no role here.”
Concern Over Presidential Intentions
Cisneros didn’t stop at logistics. He questioned Trump’s broader goals.
“The president is playing with the lives of Californians,” he said. “The military is a pawn in his political game.”
He suggested that Trump’s real aim might be to create unrest in order to invoke the Insurrection Act or declare martial law.
“God only knows why,” he added, pausing before delivering his closing line: “But California will never, ever bend to the will of a tyrant.”
Cisneros ended his one-minute statement by yielding the floor.
The White House has not responded publicly to Cisneros’s claims. ICE has also not issued a comment on the warrantless arrests mentioned.
As of now, the Department of Defense has not confirmed any operational role for Marines in immigration enforcement within California.
