DHS chief blasts Democrats for staging 'all for show' protest at Newark ICE detention facility on Memorial Day
· Fox News
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin blasted anti-ICE protesters who targeted a Newark detention facility on Memorial Day, accusing Democrats of turning a holiday honoring fallen troops into a political stunt.
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"It just shows where these extreme radical Democrats' priorities are when they choose Memorial Day, of all the days, to go out and protest the fact that we took criminals off the streets," Mullin said Tuesday on "Hannity."
"Their priorities lie more with protecting these criminals, which are the worst of the worst, than it is actually, I would say, celebrating the sacrifice that men and women across this nation have paid for the freedoms that they have to go out there and practice their First Amendment rights."
Mullin pressed on the issue, asking why protesters chose to cause a dust-up on Memorial Day.
MARKWAYNE MULLIN GOES OFF ON DEMS’ 'GARBAGE' MEMORIAL DAY ‘POLITICAL STUNT’ AT ICE FACILITY
During the interview, Mullin said he personally spoke with New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim after Kim relayed claims that detainees inside the facility had launched hunger strikes — allegations Mullin said were false.
According to Mullin, DHS ultimately allowed Kim access to the facility but set limits on how the visit could unfold.
"We ended up allowing him to have access to it," he said.
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"We said, ‘You can’t go in there with your staff and film and cause a big show.’"
Mullin said other Democratic officials, including New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, amplified the confrontation outside the facility, turning the situation into a political spectacle.
"It's like it was all for show," Mullin said.
"And at the same time, they're trying to tell me they were trying to de-escalate the situation when you had Antifa flags flying out there."
Mullin also accused local law enforcement of failing to respond as protesters allegedly blocked roads and attempted to push through security barriers outside the facility.