Senator Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., advised U.S. citizens on Wednesday not to associate with undocumented immigrants lest they be swept up in raids by federal agents.
As Immigration and Customs Enforcement continues to carry out arrests across the country, U.S. citizens have found themselves caught up, facing detention and arrest, purely by association.
Tuberville was questioned by Pablo Manríquez of Migrant Insider on Capitol Hill, who inquired about the potential danger to U.S. citizens.
“Well, first of all, don’t put yourself in a situation where that happens,” Tuberville said, in a video shared to X. “And I’m sure with all the illegals we have in this country, you’re gonna probably have some mistakes happen. That’s gonna happen.”
Tuberville went on to warn U.S. citizens that “hanging around” undocumented immigrants could lead to them being detained or arrested by association.
Manriquez then asked the senator what U.S. citizens can do to avoid arrest by ICE. “Don’t hang around illegals,” Tuberville told him. “Bottom line, because President Trump has said, we’re gonna go after you. And at the end of the day, if you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, something bad could happen.”
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George Retes, a U.S. citizen and disabled Army veteran, was arrested in July while working at a farm in Camarillo, California, when it was subject to an ICE raid. According to the Department of Homeland Security, he was not charged and has since been released.
Elzon Lemus, an electrician on Long Island, was detained by immigration agents for resembling a person of interest. The detaining of Lemus, an American citizen, was something that ICE cannot do legally. Lemus’ attorney said the move was racist, adding it was for “no good reason.”
The comments come at a time when ICE has expanded its actions, along with the Trump administration’s political desire to see birthright citizenship redefined or ended altogether.
In June, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it would begin to “prioritize” denaturalization cases against certain immigrants, a decision which could affect up to 25 million people, or 7% of the U.S. population.
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