During a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) told Angel Families who were present in the audience that he was “sorry,” but that Americans are more likely to be murdered by fellow Americans than illegal aliens.
“For the folks that are here and your families, I’m sorry. It’s terrible what happened to your children and family members, but they are more likely, American citizens are more likely to be attacked by United States citizens who are not undocumented who came here and who were born here,” Cohen told Angel Families. “[Americans] are more likely to commit these crimes.”
Several Angel Families, whose loved ones have been murdered by illegal aliens, sat behind Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Kristi Noem as she faced the committee.
Following Cohen’s comments, officials at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) responded, calling the statement “reprehensible.”
“Rep. Cohen pointing to Angel Families in the audience: ‘I’m sorry for what happened to your loved ones, BUT…’ There is no ‘but,’ Rep. Cohen. Your comments here are reprehensible,” ICE officials wrote on X.
Rep. Cohen pointing to Angel Families in the audience: “I’m sorry for what happened to your loved ones, BUT…”
There is no “but,” Rep. Cohen. Your comments here are reprehensible. pic.twitter.com/CUtiNWpcBD
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) March 4, 2026