Twitter Storm Erupts After MSNBC's Joan Walsh Calls ICE 'Violent Gang'

MSNBC political analyst Joan Walsh stirred up a Twitter firestorm Thursday when she lashed out at the head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and its officers, calling the federal agency a "violent gang."

Wow, the head of a violent gang is taking the podium at the White House. The head of ICE. Ask good questions please, WH press corps

— Joan Walsh (@joanwalsh) July 27, 2017

The Twitter-lashing came after acting ICE director Thomas Homan, at a press conference, was asked a question about President Donald Trump's assertion at a Ohio rally Wednesday that illegal immigrant gang members are "animals."

"We've got to enforce the laws," Homan said, Fox News reported, and then added: "Criminal aliens are a threat not only to the public safety but to national security."

When the inevitable blowback followed Walsh's tweet, she doubled-down.

They are brutalizing undocumented immigrants and dividing families. Proud of what I said.

— Joan Walsh (@joanwalsh) July 27, 2017

They are the deadliest gang.

— Joan Walsh (@joanwalsh) July 27, 2017

According to ICE, the majority of illegal immigrants removed in 2016 were previously convicted of a criminal offense; over 2,000 were members of gangs.

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