CLOSE

Police dispersed a camp in front of an immigration and customs office in Philadelphia, where dozens of protesters invaded the sidewalks to decry the separation of immigrant children from parents. (July the 5th)
AP

Vice President Mike Pence salutes as he disembarks on an air force base in Guatemala City on 28 June 2018. Pence begins a trip to meet Guatemalan leaders (Photo: Luis Soto, AP)

WASHINGTON – Vice President Mike Pence on Friday offered unconditional support to front-line government officials in efforts repression of Trump administration of calls for the abolition of immigration and customs.

"We are with you 100%," said Mr. Pence during a visit to the headquarters of the CIE. "We will always be proud of our brave Ice Heroes and Border Patrol."

"Under President Trump, we will never abolish ICE."

The arrival of Pence with Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen controversial for separating young children from their undocumented parents as part of a "zero tolerance frontier" policy

President Donald Trump abruptly stopped the policy last month under increasing political pressure. "Calls for the abolition of ICE are not only outrageous, they are irresponsible," said Vice President,

. Pence said the growing public criticism against the agency even put officers and their families at risk, claiming that the agency was "attacked and belittled […] at an unprecedented rate."

" These attacks on ICE officers He cited Democratic lawmakers, including Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, saying their calls for the closure of the agency were "misleading". must stop. "He said the calls to abolish the agency of 20,000 people to apprehend the undocumented in the US interior have extended well beyond the "radical left"

"The truth is that ICE opposition has moved to the center of the Democratic Party itself, just when you thought the Democrats could not go farther to the left, "he said.

Before Pence stepped onto the podium, Ron Vitiello, ICE's interim chief, addressed the group, stating that the "good work" of the agency had been attacked. "

Referring to Nielsen, Vitiello said the secretary had been the target of personal criticism when she was arrested last month at a local restaurant. "

" Thank you, Madam Secretary, for defending us "

After his own remarks, the Vice-Chairman did not ask questions

"Is separating children at the border is the Christian thing to do?" a journalist called him

Pence ignored the question as he walked into the rally shaking hands before leaving.

Read or share this story: https://usat.ly/2Nt9i5A