ICE Director Dares Philadelphia Sheriff To Lock Up His ICE Agents

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons shared a pointed message to Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal after she threatened to lock up any Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who “come into our communities” to “commit a crime.”

Bilal’s comments came a day after 37-year-old Renee Good was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis Wednesday morning while in her car. The ICE officer identified as federal agent Jonathan Ross.

Calling ICE agents “made-up fake, wannabe law enforcement” during a press conference, the Philadelphia sheriff directly called out President Donald Trump, vowing that the “criminal in the White House will not be able to keep [any ICE agents] from going to jail” if they commit a crime.

“If any of them want to come in this city and commit a crime, you will not be able to hide, nobody will whisk you off,” Bilal added. “You don’t want this smoke because we will bring it to you.”

Appearing on Fox News’ “Big Weekend Show” on Saturday, Lyons shot back at Bilal’s remark.

“Any time you pit law enforcement officers against law enforcement officers, it makes nobody safe,” Lyons said.

Lyons argued that this “increased [political] rhetoric” from Bilal and other ICE critics is “what’s causing the issues right now” for agents.

“We’re out there trying to do a lawful law enforcement mission, and this rhetoric is [a] pure example of what we’re facing everyday,” he claimed.

Wrapping up his response, Lyons dared the sheriff to “try and arrest” his ICE agents.

“I’m not one for big banter or bluster, but my message to the sheriff is: Try it. Try [and] arrest my folks. Let’s see what happens,” he added.

Elsewhere in the interview, Lyons argued that the officer “took the appropriate action” after the outlet played a new video showing the ICE officer’s POV before the fatal shooting.

“His training kicked in … you can’t put your mind in that officer’s mindset. He felt he was threatened, and he took the appropriate action,” he said.

Trying to further justify the officer’s actions, Lyons added that “they were dealing with these protestors all day long, and that’s what a lot of people don’t understand is, ICE officers and special agents are constantly hammered everyday by protestors just getting in the way [and] impeding.”

He added, “We’ve always said, ‘If you impede in a law enforcement situation, something is going to happen — and you’re going to get arrested.’ And this is proof of it right here.”

Watch a clip of Lyons’ Fox News interview here.