Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., on Thursday called on Congress to defund the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, saying it "does not deserve a dime" until "they can prove good faith to an American ideal."
At a news conference organized by the progressive group MoveOn at the foot of the Capitol steps, the freshman lawmaker called President Donald Trump's assertion he wants more legal immigration a "lie."
"The president doesn't like any form of immigration," she said.
"Not only will we not agree to fund [ICE], but we are here to say that an agency like ICE, which repeatedly and systematically violates human rights, does not deserve a dime," she said.
"Until they conclude they are honoring human rights, until they can make a good-faith effort to expand and embrace immigrants, the immigrants in this nation that have always been a part, and have always been a core element of American democracy, until they can prove good faith to an American ideal they do not deserve any resources for their radical agenda," she added.
A video clip of the speech was posted on Twitter.
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