White House Defends ICE Actions in Minneapolis Amid Backlash

Democratic strategist says MAGA supporters are the 'real threat', not immigrants

Feb. 18, 2026 at 8:15pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A Democratic Party strategist has accused the Trump administration of defending Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials' actions in Minneapolis in order to appease their core MAGA voter base ahead of the midterm elections. Anat Shenker-Osorio suggested the hardline stance is more about protecting the MAGA base than addressing any real public safety concerns.

Why it matters

The strategist's comments highlight the ongoing political tensions around immigration enforcement and the Trump administration's efforts to maintain support from its conservative base, even as critics argue ICE's actions have caused harm to immigrant communities.

The details

Shenker-Osorio accused the Trump administration of being a 'MAGA murder regime' that is 'hell-bent on destroying' its opponents. She said the White House is trying to 'foment a counter-revolution' by portraying immigrants as a threat in order to distract from the harm being done by 'billionaires'. The strategist argued the administration needs to 'reassure their base' and create 'plausible deniability' for ICE's actions in places like Minneapolis.

  • The comments were made on February 17, 2026, ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

The players

Karoline Leavitt

The White House Press Secretary who defended ICE's actions in Minneapolis.

Anat Shenker-Osorio

A Democratic Party strategist who criticized the Trump administration's defense of ICE.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Obviously, what's going on here—and it's pretty plain for almost all of America to see, other than the calcified core of the MAGA base who will never, ever be moved—is that this is a regime of the bullies, by the bribes, for the billionaires.”

— Anat Shenker-Osorio, Democratic Party strategist (The New Republic)

“They are hell-bent on destroying us. As I like to call them, they're a MAGA murder regime, and they've proved it in every conceivable way.”

— Anat Shenker-Osorio, Democratic Party strategist (The New Republic)

What’s next

The Biden administration is expected to review ICE's enforcement tactics in Minneapolis and other cities as part of a broader examination of the agency's practices.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the deep political divides over immigration enforcement, with the Trump administration doubling down on its hardline approach to appeal to its conservative base, even as critics argue such tactics harm immigrant communities and distract from larger economic issues.