Democratic New York Rep. Dan Goldman is facing intense backlash after posting a series of tweets in Spanish and Chinese aimed at advising migrants on how to navigate interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Goldman, who has frequently spoken out against the Trump administration’s immigration policies, included a video and links to resources to help migrants when dealing with ICE agents.
“Every New Yorker has rights when they interact with immigration enforcement,” Goldman tweeted. “No matter what the next four years bring, stay informed, stay safe, and stay together.” This message was accompanied by a video where he criticized the immigration enforcement strategies under former President Trump, particularly the widespread ICE raids in New York City.
However, his comments quickly sparked accusations from conservative critics who allege that Goldman was attempting to shield criminal illegal immigrants from deportation, an act that violates federal law. Trump’s former border czar, Tom Homan, criticized the congressman, telling the Daily Caller News Foundation that federal statutes prohibit harboring or concealing illegal immigrants from ICE, actions that could lead to felony charges.
In response to the backlash, Goldman’s office clarified that the congressman’s message was intended to provide guidance for American citizens and legal immigrants who might be wrongly detained by ICE. A spokesperson for Goldman argued that ICE under the Trump administration had detained American citizens and legal residents in error, and the congressman was simply working to protect his constituents from what he perceived as overreach and unlawful detention practices.
An ICE spokesperson countered Goldman’s claims, stating that U.S. citizens are not subject to arrest unless there is probable cause that they are unauthorized noncitizens. They also clarified that ICE may request identification during operations, including from U.S. citizens, to establish an individual’s identity.
Goldman’s office cited a few high-profile instances in which American citizens were allegedly detained by ICE, including an incident where a seafood store owner in Newark, New Jersey, claimed that ICE had detained a U.S. military veteran. However, ICE later stated that the business manager had granted officers permission to enter and denied that a U.S. citizen had been detained. Another example Goldman pointed to involved a Telemundo report of Puerto Rican American citizens allegedly detained in Milwaukee, though ICE had no record of the incident.
The controversy surrounding Goldman’s tweets intensified when he published them in both Spanish and Chinese, extending his message to a broader audience of potential migrants. This decision further fueled criticism from conservatives, including radio host Mark Levin, who called for Goldman to be expelled from the House, and Rep. Mark Harris of North Carolina.
每一位纽约居民在与移民执法部门互动时都享有权利。
— Rep. Dan Goldman (@RepDanGoldman) February 5, 2025
无论未来四年带来什么变化，请保持信息灵通，注意安全，团结一致。https://t.co/HjQgRzBzNv pic.twitter.com/idZfFChEaN
Goldman’s actions are especially noteworthy given his positions on key congressional committees, including the Committee on Homeland Security, where border security is a prominent issue. His voting record also reflects an allegiance to illegal immigrants, including his vote against the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the detention of illegal immigrants arrested for crimes.
New York has become a hotbed for illegal immigration, especially under the Biden administration. Venezuelan migrants made headlines for assaulting and killing NYPD officers, with one offering the defense that killing and attacking cops was “normal” in his country of origin. Roosevelt Avenue has also become the city’s red light district, running rampant with prostitution at all hours of the day, with gangs often pimping out young women of Hispanic and Asian descent that entered the country illegally.
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