Sen. Ron Johnson Blasts Keith Ellison at Senate Hearing: “Two People Are Dead Because of You”
A Senate Homeland Security hearing over a federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota erupted Thursday when Sen. Ron Johnson confronted Attorney General Keith Ellison about protests linked to two fatal shootings.
The exchange centered on Operation Metro Surge, the ICE-led enforcement action in Minneapolis that drew mass demonstrations and more than 4,000 arrests, according to AP News.
Johnson pressed Ellison directly. “Did you ever encourage people to go out there and exercise their First Amendment rights?” he asked during the hearing.
“I freely admit being in favor of the First Amendment,” Ellison responded.
Johnson then escalated the exchange, accusing Ellison of contributing to dangerous conditions during the protests. “Two people are dead because you encouraged them to put themselves into harm’s way,” Johnson said.
Ellison rejected that claim, denying he urged anyone toward violence and disputing Johnson’s characterization of his statements.
The hearing comes as Congress reviews the federal operation, which ended after months of protests and mounting political pressure. Two U.S. citizens were killed in separate incidents involving federal agents during the enforcement surge, according to AP reporting.
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Republican lawmakers defended the operation as necessary immigration enforcement, while Democratic members raised concerns about use of force, federal-state coordination and community impact.
The sharp back-and-forth underscored the broader national divide over immigration policy and protest rights, particularly when federal enforcement intersects with public demonstrations.
Congress is expected to continue oversight hearings, with calls for additional documentation and body camera footage as DHS funding negotiations move forward.
The debate over responsibility and rhetoric surrounding the operation is unlikely to fade anytime soon.
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