By Trendsetter Tribune 
Republican Rep. Carlos Gimenez urges a shift in ICE enforcement to focus on criminals, sparking criticism from Democrats ahead of the House GOP federal funding debate.
Republican Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) expressed frustration over current Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, saying Democrats are forcing a course correction that his party should have handled earlier. Speaking to Maria Bartiromo on Fox News, Gimenez said, “We should’ve been focusing on criminals and gang members and people who have active deportation orders. I don’t think we should’ve been focusing on people who have been here for a long time, grandmothers, et cetera.”
Gimenez argued that some immigrants contribute positively to the U.S. economy and reiterated that enforcement should prioritize the criminal elements that the President pledged to remove.
His comments came as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) pushes a GOP federal funding package through the House, meeting resistance from Democrats demanding stricter oversight of ICE.
Democratic candidates challenging Republican incumbents were quick to respond. Phil Ehr, running against Gimenez, accused him on social media of supporting inhumane detention practices, while Bernard Taylor, a candidate opposing Rep. Brian Mast, criticized Gimenez for what he called a late attempt to cover past actions.
The debate highlights the growing tension in Congress over immigration enforcement and federal funding, with enforcement strategy now a central issue in upcoming midterm campaigns.
Liar. ¡Mentiroso! You are the administration.
— Phil Ehr (@PhilEhr) February 2, 2026
You lied about conditions at Krome.
You let FEMA funds from your own district bankroll Alligator Alcatraz.
You stood by while Cubans and Venezuelans lost TPS and were detained inhumanely, and you supported it.