Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., told Newsmax on Wednesday that Americans largely agree with President Donald Trump on securing the border, but warned the administration risks losing public support over its immigration enforcement tactics and rhetoric.
On "Rob Schmitt Tonight," Smith addressed recent immigration enforcement activity in Minneapolis, where border czar Tom Homan has overseen stepped-up cooperation between federal authorities and state and local officials.
Smith, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, said Trump has public backing on the core goals of immigration enforcement.
"There's two things that the American people strongly agree with Donald Trump on when it comes to immigration," Smith said. "Number one, they want a secure border.
"And they don't think, and rightly so, that the border was secure under Joe Biden. It wasn't."
Smith added that late changes by the Biden administration were "too little, too late," allowing Trump to move quickly upon taking office.
"The second thing they agree is that criminals, dangerous criminals in particular, should be the target of immigration enforcement and they should be deported," he said, adding that "not enough states and local jurisdictions cooperate with federal law enforcement on that."
But Smith criticized how enforcement has been carried out, saying aggressive tactics by the federal government have undermined public support.
"The big problem with what President Trump has done that has made it unpopular is, number one, the rules of engagement. ICE and these other agencies have come in, no due process, no probable cause, kicking in doors, bashing out windows, dragging people out," he said, referencing Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
He also objected to enforcement actions beyond criminal targets.
"These aren't just targeting dangerous criminals," Smith said. "They're going in and pulling 4-year-olds out of preschool, and I don't think the people support that."
Smith further accused administration officials of misrepresenting enforcement incidents, pointing to public statements after two fatal shootings by federal law enforcement of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
"Lastly, there's the dishonesty, particularly from [Homeland Security Secretary] Kristi Noem when on ... the two shootings describing circumstances that weren't happening, saying that Pretti was brandishing a firearm and was hell-bent on killing a whole ... the facts weren't there."
Smith said the administration's confrontational messaging is unnecessary.
"President Trump, he's always the tough guy," Smith said. "He's always saying, we're going to go in and kick ass and take names and be hyperaggressive ... and no, I don't think that's necessary to deport people or enforce [immigration law].
"I will say the president of the United States, the secretary of ... homeland security, they're in charge. They're in big positions.
"They want to do this right. They need to change their tactics, they need to change their rhetoric, or they're going to lose the American people on this issue."
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