California Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters joined anti-ICE protesters on the streets of Los Angeles on Sunday, where she was seen confronting and verbally attacking Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
She later attempted to enter the Los Angeles Federal Building to inquire about a union leader who had been taken into custody, but agents there told her to contact their public affairs liaison before slamming the door in her face.
Waters was caught on video shouting at National Guard troops, who had been deployed by President Donald Trump following two days of violent demonstrations in which protesters clashed with ICE agents enforcing federal immigration laws.
“Why do you have guns? What are you going to do, you going to shoot some kid who’s afraid of you and runs?” Waters taunted. “You going to shoot an elected official? If you shoot me, you better shoot straight. I don’t know why you’re in my city. The governor was not contacted.
“This is Trump, and his outrageous attempt to not only target our sanctuary city but to frighten us and intimidate us. This is wrong, and I hope that none of you will use those guns to shoot anybody. There’s no reason to shoot anybody,” Waters added.
Waters then tried to enter the federal building to “check on” Service Employees International Union (SEIU) President David Huerta, who had been injured and detained during a violent confrontation between protesters and ICE agents.
Invoking her “congressional authority,” Waters demanded access to the facility, but was denied entry by a security officer who told her plainly, “The lobby is secured to all visitors,” before shutting the door.
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The California Democrat presented a far different version of the events when she posted an update via X. Waters said she “pled with the National Guard, which was heavily armed, not to use their weapons against peaceful demonstrators who were simply exercising their rights to freedom of speech and protest. All people deserve to be treated with dignity and due process under the law. Peaceful, nonviolent demonstrations are critical to protecting our constitutional rights!”