Floor SpeechNeutral2026-01-08

HOLDING ICE ACCOUNTABLE

ImmigrationTaxes

Context

On 2026-01-08, Representative Robert Menendez (D-NJ-8) delivered a floor speech titled "HOLDING ICE ACCOUNTABLE" in the House. The speech addressed immigration and also covered taxes.

Full Text

HOLDING ICE ACCOUNTABLE

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026)] [House] [Page H148] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HOLDING ICE ACCOUNTABLE (Mr. Menendez of New Jersey was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, yesterday our Nation witnessed the killing of a fellow American in broad daylight, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her name was Renee Nicole Good. She was a concerned citizen and a mother. The loss of her life was entirely preventable. This tragic loss of life comes the same week that we remember what occurred here 5 years ago on January 6. On that day, violent insurrectionists attacked police officers, many of whom sustained serious injuries and five of whom have passed away since the attack, including Brian Sicknick, a New Jersey native and a proud Capitol Police officer. Instead of remembering and healing from the events of that day, President Trump pardoned close to 1,600 seditious and violent insurrectionists who were convicted of criminal charges. The President and House Republicans have tried to vanish the events of that day from our collective memory, but we will not let them. Last year, alongside my colleagues Congresswomen Watson Coleman and McIver, I witnessed firsthand outside Delaney Hall how far this administration will go to silence dissent and opposition when more than 20 armed ICE and HSI officers physically prevented us from doing our job. What I said then and what I would say today is that all of this should be completely unacceptable to all Americans and should shake every American to their core. I have said time and time again that no one is safe in Trump's America. Mothers, Capitol Police officers, our neighbors, Members of Congress, no one, not a single person should feel safe with him as our President. This administration's extreme agenda does not reflect the best of who we are as a country but, instead, seeks to turn us against each other. We cannot allow that to happen. ____________________

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HOLDING ICE ACCOUNTABLE Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026)] [House] [Page H148] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HOLDING ICE ACCOUNTABLE (Mr. Menendez of New Jersey was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, yesterday our Nation witnessed the killing of a fellow American in broad daylight, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her name was Renee Nicole Good. She was a concerned citizen and a mother. The loss of her life was entirely preventable. This tragic loss of life comes the same week that we remember what occurred here 5 years ago on January 6. On that day, violent insurrectionists attacked police officers, many of whom sustained serious injuries and five of whom have passed away since the attack, including Brian Sicknick, a New Jersey native and a proud Capitol Police officer. Instead of remembering and healing from the events of that day, President Trump pardoned close to 1,600 seditious and violent insurrectionists who were convicted of criminal charges. The President and House Republicans have tried to vanish the events of that day from our collective memory, but we will not let them. Last year, alongside my colleagues Congresswomen Watson Coleman and McIver, I witnessed firsthand outside Delaney Hall how far this administration will go to silence dissent and opposition when more than 20 armed ICE and HSI officers physically prevented us from doing our job. What I said then and what I would say today is that all of this should be completely unacceptable to all Americans and should shake every American to their core. I have said time and time again that no one is safe in Trump's America. Mothers, Capitol Police officers, our neighbors, Members of Congress, no one, not a single person should feel safe with him as our President. This administration's extreme agenda does not reflect the best of who we are as a country but, instead, seeks to turn us against each other. We cannot allow that to happen. ____________________