2028 Dem Hopeful Claims ICE Has No Real ‘Mission,’ Only Shows Up To Violate Constitutional Rights
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a rumored 2028 Democratic presidential contender, sparked controversy Tuesday when he claimed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents had no legitimate mission and only existed to violate Americans’ constitutional rights.
Speaking during an appearance on ABC’s “The View,” Shapiro criticized the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts and vowed to fight back if federal agents are deployed to Pennsylvania cities like Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.
“To me, it is very clear that the mission the president and Kristi Noem and Stephen Miller and JD Vance and all of them sent these federal officials on is a mission to violate people’s constitutional rights,” Shapiro declared. “And it is clear that the mission needs to be terminated immediately, period, hard stop.”
Shapiro was responding to questions about the shooting of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse who was killed during a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis. Border Patrol agents say Pretti interfered with law enforcement and appeared to pose a threat. The incident has sparked days of unrest in Minnesota.
Co-host Sara Haines asked what Shapiro planned to do if similar operations came to Pennsylvania. Shapiro said he was already preparing to thwart the federal government’s efforts.
“We understand that this is a risk — maybe not just in Philly, but Pittsburgh, Lancaster, other communities across Pennsylvania,” he said. “Wherever it comes, we’ll be prepared — we’ll be prepared in the community, we’ll be prepared in the court of law.”
Shapiro says he’s ready to stop ICE from enforcing immigration law in Pennsylvania. pic.twitter.com/hoXXZ2C0KB
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) January 27, 2026
The Democrat governor touted his record of suing President Trump and said he had taken the Trump administration to court 19 times during the first year of Trump’s second term — and claimed he had won every case.
As Pennsylvania’s former attorney general, Shapiro was one of the most vocal opponents of President Trump’s border enforcement strategy during Trump’s first term. Now, as the White House ramps up operations to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens, Shapiro is positioning himself as a top opponent of ICE — even as the agency cracks down on murderers, sex offenders, and gang members.
Shapiro was previously floated as a potential running mate for Kamala Harris in 2024, though Harris ultimately failed to secure the nomination. With Democrats already lining up for 2028, Shapiro’s remarks suggest he intends to run hard to the left on immigration.
Trump administration officials responded by reaffirming their support for ICE and warning that Democrats who obstruct federal law enforcement will bear responsibility for future tragedies.