Congressman Aderholt says that Albertville protesters rhetoric targeting ICE is "dangerous"

January 30, 2025 - ALBERTVILLE, AL – A day after dozens of protestors condemned ICE and President Donald J. Trump's efforts to remove illegal aliens from this country, Congressman Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL04) released a statement regarding the anti-ICE protests that are occurring in Albertville, Alabama.

"As a staunch advocate for the rule of law and the safety of our communities, I find the recent anti-ICE protests in Albertville deeply concerning," said Rep. Aderholt in a statement. "While I respect the right to peaceful assembly and free speech, any rhetoric that threatens or undermines the essential work of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is unacceptable. ICE plays a critical role in targeting violent criminals who are in the country illegally, ensuring that dangerous individuals do not pose a threat to our communities. To say that ICE won't be tolerated in and around Albertville is a game of dangerous rhetoric."

The protests occurred on Wednesday, after President Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law. The Laken Riley Act will require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain illegal aliens who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting offenses, assault of a law enforcement officer, or any crime resulting in death or serious bodily injury, so they cannot reoffend and commit further crimes. This legislation will also ensure states have standing to bring civil actions against federal officials who refuse to enforce immigration law or who violate the law. The law is named after Georgia nursing student Laken Riley who was brutally murdered by a criminal illegal alien that the Biden administration allowed to remain in the country.

"By making the Laken Riley Act the first bill signed under his administration, President Trump shows he is committed to immigration enforcement and seeking justice for the bereaved families of Americans lost to lawlessness at the border," said Rep. Aderholt.

The demonstrators in the streets of downtown Albertville were protesting the Trump administration's immigration policies after there were reports that there have already been arrests in some Alabama cities as part of a wider effort on the part of federal authorities to crack down on illegal aliens in cities around the nation.

The Alabama Media Group reported that the protestors were waving American, Mexican and flags from Latin American countries and were chanting, "el pueblo unido jamas sera vencido," (the people united will never be defeated,), "nobody is illegal on stolen land," and "no one is illegal, power to the people."

Over the years, Albertville has become much more Hispanic as food processors have imported illegals from Latin America to work in the processing plants and chicken houses as it has become increasingly hard to recruit American workers into those fields as well as in the construction and horticulture fields.

Congressman Robert Aderholt has represented Alabama's Fourth Congressional District since 1996.

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