A Florida congressman is drawing sharp criticism after calling for full citizenship for all illegal immigrants and condemning federal immigration agents during a press event this week.
Rep. Maxwell Frost, a first-term Democrat representing central Florida, said during a Wednesday appearance that all illegal immigrants residing in the U.S. should be given legal status.
At the same event, Frost unveiled a proposal targeting federal immigration enforcement, accusing agents of engaging in behavior comparable to historical atrocities.
“We also have to talk about the [ICE] agents themselves that are carrying this out,” Frost said. “If you have any decency, quit now. Go do something else.”
His comments came alongside new legislation that would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to disclose public data about the individuals it detains.
Frost referred to the agency’s actions as “terrorism in our communities,” escalating his criticism by linking their work to “some of the worst horrors and crimes against humanity.”
The call for amnesty comes as illegal immigration remains a central issue in national politics.
According to Pew Research Center estimates, more than 11 million illegal immigrants were living in the country as of 2022—a number that has likely grown following historic levels of unlawful border crossings during former President Joe Biden’s term.
Frost argued that residing in the U.S. without legal permission should not be considered a crime.
“I want to be clear: being undocumented in this country is not a crime,” he said. “To my Republican colleagues who say, ‘I don’t want any undocumented people in this country,’ I actually agree with you. So let’s document every single one of them.”
Frost’s position stands in contrast with voter sentiment on immigration.
A recent survey conducted in May among likely voters in battleground districts found fewer than 20 percent approved of Democrats’ handling of immigration, amounting to a 58-point net-negative rating.
The findings highlight deep frustration over border security, particularly among independent and moderate voters.
Republican leaders quickly condemned Frost’s remarks, framing them as a reflection of a broader Democratic agenda.
“Maxwell Frost just said the quiet part out loud: Democrats don’t want secure borders,” said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Mike Marinell, according to The Daily Caller.
“They want to fundamentally transform our country with mass amnesty for every single illegal immigrant, and this is exactly why voters don’t trust a word they say.”
The Florida lawmaker has previously faced scrutiny over his immigration positions.
In April, he traveled to El Salvador to push for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador who was detained on suspicion of human smuggling and alleged links to the violent MS-13 gang.
Other progressive Democrats have echoed similar views.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has repeatedly demanded the abolition of ICE.
In another recent statement, Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) drew attention after claiming that the U.S. economy depends on illegal labor, stating, “We’re not going to have anybody around to wipe our asses.”
In contrast, some Democrats are moderating their rhetoric amid election pressures.
Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D) recently said that illegal immigrants who commit crimes should be sent back to their country of origin.
Frost’s office did not respond to a request for comment following Wednesday’s press conference.
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