Rep. Tim Burchett criticized Democrats over the ongoing government shutdown, accusing them of targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and undermining law enforcement.

In remarks delivered outdoors from his farm, Burchett framed the shutdown as an effort to prevent ICE from carrying out immigration enforcement duties.

“Hey everybody. Tim Burchett, y’all know what’s crazy. First of all, I’m standing out here in the dadgum rain talking to y’all here at the farm. Second of all is the Democrats shutting the government down because they want to unmask ICE agents so they can harass law enforcement because they’re enforcing the dadgum laws.”

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Burchett compared immigration enforcement to home security, arguing that federal authorities are upholding existing laws.

“Tell them next time somebody breaks into your dad gum house and they want you to feed them, want you to clothe them, want you to give them medicine. Want you to educate them. That’s exactly what illegal aliens are doing. And yeah, I’m sure some of them are good people, but they got a lot of dirtbags in there.”

He also raised concerns about federal spending priorities during the shutdown, pointing specifically to the U.S. Coast Guard.

“But the real irony of the whole thing is, how much money do you think as they shut the government down, one of those areas is Coast Guard. How much money do you think their budget is? I’ll tell you. It’s around 14 and a half billion dollars.”

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Burchett referenced a separate financial matter in Minnesota, drawing a comparison to the Coast Guard’s budget.

“And guess what? They stole in Minnesota, 14 and a half billion dollars with a B, both of them billion dollars, and that is what they’re protesting so they can keep doing that.”

He argued that opposition to ICE enforcement is connected to broader disagreements over immigration policy.

“And that’s why they’re mad at the ICE agents, because they’re trying to enforce some some portion of the law. So Democrats don’t like anyway, let’s keep fighting. Let’s take our dead gun country back, folks and please keep praying for our country. Thank y’all for sending me here.”

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Burchett’s comments come amid ongoing disputes in Washington over immigration enforcement, federal funding, and the scope of executive authority.

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