Seventy-five Democrats broke ranks on Monday, joining Republicans in voting for a House resolution condemning antisemitism and expressing “gratitude” for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other law enforcement personnel.
Why It Matters
Monday’s vote comes as Los Angeles is reeling from days of political unrest after ICE raided several downtown city neighborhoods and arrested more than 50 people.
The arrests are part of the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on undocumented migrants, which has also swept up people who are legally permitted in the United States. President Donald Trump has deployed 4,000 National Guard troops to L.A. since the protests started unfolding and has also mobilized 700 Marines to respond if the strife escalates.
What To Know
Monday’s resolution condemned this month’s antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, in which the suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, faces 118 criminal charges, accused of targeting a march calling for the return of Israeli hostages in Gaza.
The resolution also “affirms that free and open communication between State and local law enforcement and their federal counterparts remains the bedrock of public safety and is necessary in preventing terrorist attacks; and expresses gratitude to law enforcement officers, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel, for protecting the homeland.”
Of the 212 Democrats in the House, 113 voted against the resolution, which was introduced by Republican Representative Gabe Evans. Seventy-five Democrats voted in favor of the measure, including Representative Joe Neguse, of the district in which the Boulder attack occurred. Six lawmakers—five Democrats and one Republican—voted “present.”
A second, more broadly focused antisemitism resolution led by Representatives Jeff Van Drew, a Republican from New Jersey, and Neguse, received much wider bipartisan support, passing 400-0 with only two lawmakers voting “present”—Representatives Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat from Michigan, and Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia.
What People Are Saying
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized Evans’ resolution, telling reporters: “Who is this guy? He’s not seriously concerned with combating antisemitism in America. This is not a serious effort. Antisemitism is a scourge on America. It shouldn’t be weaponized politically.”
Evans responded to Jeffries on X: “I served our nation in uniform in the Middle East, as a cop in Colorado, & now as a Congressman. This wildly offensive sentiment from Democrat’s Leader is why antisemitism persists. The Left is unserious about finding real solutions.”
Representative Dan Goldman of New York, who is Jewish, criticized the resolution during floor debate: “You weren’t here, Mr. Evans, last term, but there were about 10 antisemitism resolutions that effectively said the same thing solely to score political points. We Jews are sick and tired of being used as pawns.”
Van Drew defended Evans’ measure: “Yes, it is different than mine. Mine focused purely on antisemitism here in the world. But he brings up a valid point not only for Jews, but for many innocent victims… Illegal immigration is not a good thing.”
David Axelrod, ex-adviser to former President Barack Obama, posted to X: “.@BarackObama deported far more illegal immigrants than Trump, targeting those w/criminal records & the newly arrived. It was done carefully, responsibly & lawfully. What we’re seeing in LA is calculated to provoke & escalate. It’s a made-for TV reality show, produced by Donald J. Trump.”
Greene wrote on X after voting “present”: “Antisemitic hate crimes are wrong, but so are all hate crimes. Yet Congress never votes on hate crimes committed against white people, Christians, men, the homeless, or countless others.”
VCG via AP
What Happens Next
The Trump administration has vowed that Soliman and his family will be deported from the United States.
Update 6/9/25, 11:05 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.