Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) sparked outrage this week after accusing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of participating in “human trafficking” by deporting illegal immigrants. His comments came during an interview in which he claimed ICE agents are detaining individuals without due process and forcibly removing them from the country—actions he equated to state-sponsored kidnapping.
“They’re pulling up in vans, grabbing people, and trafficking them across borders,” Frost said. “This isn’t law enforcement—it’s terrorism in our own backyard.”
Frost, one of the youngest and most progressive members of Congress, used the moment to call for sweeping changes to federal immigration policy. He proposed legislation to force ICE to disclose detailed data on every removal and arrest—and pushed for a full amnesty plan that would fast-track citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants currently in the U.S.
“This country should be a sanctuary for those seeking a better life,” he said. “We’re not just breaking up families—we’re violating core human rights.”
Republican lawmakers immediately pushed back. House Speaker Mike Johnson blasted the remarks as “reckless and dishonest,” accusing Frost of slandering federal agents while advocating open borders. “Calling ICE agents human traffickers is not just offensive—it’s dangerous,” Johnson said.
White House aide Stephen Miller echoed those sentiments, saying Democrats like Frost were more interested in mass amnesty than national security. “Their agenda is to erase the southern border and reward lawlessness,” he warned.
As the immigration debate continues to heat up, Frost’s incendiary accusation has added new fuel to the fire—pitting progressive demands for mass legalization against growing Republican calls for strict enforcement and deportation.