Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) mocked remarks by Democrats about President Donald Trump's deportation efforts, calling them "fearmongering" in a recent appearance on Fox Business's Varney & Co.
The specific remarks came from MSNBC host Symone Sanders-Townsend, who claimed on Saturday that President Trump intends to deport African Americans during a discussion about the ongoing controversy surrounding Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
"Because if they can do it to them if they can snatch students off the street without any pushback or recourse, they will do it to any of us," said Symone-Townsend, referencing the deportation of Mahmoud Khalid, adding, "To be very clear, it's going to be the people of color, and vulnerable communities that are next in line."
The Varney & Co. host asked Rep. Gimenez for comment on Sanders-Townsend's statement, which he dismissed as "just fearmongering."
"That is what the Democrats have gone down to, and that is all it is, you know, 'be careful, they are going to come after you next,' and nothing could be further from the truth," said Rep. Gimenez, adding, "The President was very clear in what he was going to do when he became President: All those that entered the country illegally, a lot of them were going to be sent back home, rightfully so."
The Florida Congressman further suggested that Democrats are "grasping at straws" in their rhetoric, claiming that "every example is, 'Oh look, they did it to him, they are going to do it to us. They are going to snatch us off the street, they are going to come into our neighborhoods.' Just plain fearmongering, that is all."
Representative Maxwell Frost (D-FL), meanwhile, is in El Salvador hoping to pressure President Nayib Bukele into releasing Abrego Garcia, the illegal alien in the spotlight of the recent controversy surrounding his deportation.
The trip is not an official congressional delegation visit, as Representative James Comer (R-KY) denied him taxpayer funds for the flight, which Rep. Frost called "pretty shameful."
Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Robert Garcia (D-CA), and Maxine Dexter (D-OR) joined Frost.
