DHS Slams Democrats For Bringing Immigration Activists To State Of The Union

As President Trump prepares to deliver his State of the Union address, a battle over immigration enforcement is already playing out not just in policy negotiations, but in the guest list.

With the Department of Homeland Security facing a funding lapse amid disputes over ICE operations, several Democrats have invited guests tied directly to immigration enforcement controversies. DHS officials say that choice speaks volumes.

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) invited Marcelo Gomes da Silva, whom his office says was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after unknowingly overstaying an expired student visa.

Moulton framed the case as evidence of a broken system. But DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin responded bluntly: Gomes da Silva “is still an illegal alien and subject to removal proceedings.”

Similarly, Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) invited Caroline Dias Gonçalves, described as a DACA recipient who was briefly arrested by ICE last year. DHS countered that her visa expired more than a decade ago and stressed that visa integrity must be enforced.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis issued a sharp rebuke:

“Today, some Democrats in Congress are planning to bring illegal aliens as guests to the State of the Union. Once again, they are putting illegal aliens above the safety of American citizens.”

To underscore its position, DHS pointed to arrests made just one day earlier. According to the department, ICE officers detained individuals with convictions including:

• Sexual assault

• Rape

• Crimes involving minors

• Assault and naturalization fraud

Federal data shows that ICE made over 170,000 administrative arrests in fiscal year 2024, with a significant portion involving individuals with prior criminal convictions. The agency has repeatedly argued that interior enforcement remains critical to public safety.

President Trump reinforced that message this week by proclaiming National Angel Family Day, honoring families who have lost loved ones to crimes committed by illegal immigrants.

The immigration fight is unfolding against the backdrop of a DHS funding lapse. Senate Democrats are pushing for reforms to ICE practices, while Republicans have drawn red lines against restrictions they say would undermine enforcement authority.

Some Democrats have opted to skip the address altogether. Others are using their invitations to spotlight cases they argue demonstrate excessive or misguided enforcement.

Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), who is facing federal charges related to an incident outside an ICE detention facility last year, released a preemptive critique of the administration ahead of the speech.

“Is democracy worth defending?” she asked in a statement criticizing Trump’s immigration policies.

The clash reflects deeper national divisions over immigration policy. In recent years:

• Border encounters reached record highs before declining amid policy shifts.

• Fentanyl seizures at the southern border surged, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection reporting tens of thousands of pounds intercepted annually.

• Polling consistently shows immigration and border security among voters’ top concerns.

For DHS, the issue is straightforward: enforcing visa rules and immigration law is non-negotiable.

For many Democrats, the emphasis is on humanitarian considerations and legal protections for certain categories of migrants.

Tuesday night’s State of the Union may focus on economic growth, national security, and foreign policy but the guest list alone makes clear that immigration remains one of the defining battles of this presidency.

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