An Organized Insurgency - Walz and Frey Don't Have the Legal Authority: Byron Donalds [WATCH]

Rep. Byron Donalds said no one wants to see lives lost but stressed that individuals do not have the right to forcibly interfere with law enforcement, including federal immigration officers, following questions about a recent incident involving ICE.

Donalds made the remarks in response to a reporter’s question about video footage from a confrontation that occurred Saturday and the administration’s statements surrounding it.

“You have been basically backing ICE, you know, the whole way, this whole controversial the last year,” the reporter said.

“But what about what happened on Saturday? The administration seemed to be saying things that we aren’t accurate. What’s your take about what we saw in that video?”

Warning: Account balances and purchasing power no longer tell the same story. Know in 2 minutes if your retirement is working for you.

Donalds said the loss of life is tragic but emphasized that the rule of law must be upheld.

“I mean, first and foremost, nobody wants to see anybody lose their life. Let’s be very clear on that,” Donalds said.

“But my position has been very simple, you do not have the right to engage law enforcement in a forcible way. Period.”

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

He said law enforcement officers at every level must be allowed to carry out their duties without obstruction.

“Nobody wants an American to lose their life, nobody,” Donalds said.

“But you cannot stop them from doing their law enforcement duties, whether they’re ICE officials, Secret Service, FBI, a sheriff in the state of Florida, or anybody at any one of our police departments in the state of Florida, you do not have that right to do that.”

Donalds said the situation in Minnesota has escalated due in part to public statements made by state and local leaders.

“So it’s very unfortunate what happened in this situation,” he said.

“I will also add, part of the reason why the the Tensions have risen out of control in Minnesota is because of Governor Walz and his rhetoric, because of Mayor Frey and his rhetoric.”

He said emerging information suggests the possibility of coordinated resistance against federal officers, though he noted such claims would need to be verified.

“And part of the things that are now starting to become uncovered is in this stuff that has to be verified, but potentially a very organized insurgency against federal officials executing federal law under the United States Constitution,” Donalds said.

Donalds rejected claims that governors or mayors can block federal immigration enforcement, citing constitutional authority.

“Governors in the United States do not have the legal authority to stop federal law enforcement from deporting criminal illegal ailments,” he said.

“That is constitutional law. The states have actually given that power to the federal government. That’s the very construct of our constitutional framework.”

He said comments from Minnesota leaders encouraging resistance to ICE were reckless and legally unfounded.

“So no matter what, Tim Walz says, He does not have the legal authority to impede ICE officials, and he’s been reckless in his language,” Donalds said.

“So is the mayor saying that they’re going to stand up to ICE they don’t have the legal authority.”

Donalds said he believes such rhetoric is driven by political motives rather than legal reality.

“And what’s worse is they know they don’t have the legal authority,” he said.

“They just want to be a bunch of tough guys so that somebody in the Democrat party can have some ability to have some policy opposed to Donald Trump.”

He pointed to public opinion as evidence that immigration enforcement remains broadly supported.

“If you look at the polling today, the American people still support deportations of criminal illegal aliens in our country,” Donalds said.

Donalds concluded by reiterating that enforcement and public safety must coexist, and that no one supports violence.

“But one thing is clear, nobody wants to see a loss of life,” he said.