Democrat Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL) has called on her supporters to “threaten” Congress.
Wilson provoked a backlash on Thursday after holding a roadside press conference outside the ICE Krome Detention Center, where she urged supporters to “threaten” Congress and called for an “uprising” over immigration enforcement policies.
Wilson’s appearance followed her visit to the Miami detention facility, where she criticized current immigration detention and deportation efforts.
Standing among bushes on the side of a busy road, Wilson made a series of remarks targeting House Republicans and calling for political action.
“We just need five Democrats to take back power in the House,” Wilson said.
“And we’ll use every power available…
“If we got five, we can control all of this.”
Wilson then escalated her message, encouraging supporters to pressure lawmakers directly.
“I’ve been giving out the phone numbers to the House of Representatives and to the Senate. It’s one number,” Wilson said.
“That number you call and you threaten it.
“And you say, ‘This is wrong. This is not America. This is not what we stand for. We need a change.’
“You have to do that,” Wilson declared.
“It’s going to take the people…I’ve talked myself into oblivion.
“We need the people, we need an uprising, the people taking to the streets, and phones and writing letters. That’s what we need.”
WATCH:
WATCH: Democrat Rep. Frederica Wilson calls on people to “threaten” members of Congress in response to President Trump’s border security policies.
“I’ve been giving out the phone numbers to the House of Representatives and to the Senate. It’s one number. That number you call and… pic.twitter.com/A81jSBCd3r
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) April 24, 2025
Her comments immediately drew comparisons to previous controversial remarks from other Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA).
In 2018, Watters called for people to publicly confront Trump administration officials.
Wilson’s call for “threatening” action and an “uprising” comes amid heightened political tensions surrounding immigration enforcement.
The Biden-Harris administration has faced bipartisan criticism over border security, while President Donald Trump’s administration has ramped up efforts to enforce deportation laws.
Following her press conference, Wilson also posted on X, accusing ICE of targeting “hardworking immigrants” and calling for an end to what she described as the government’s “reign of terror against immigrant communities.”
We must decide what kind of nation we want to be. America is a nation of immigrants, and every person deserves dignity.
Our government must end its reign of terror against immigrant communities. PERIOD. pic.twitter.com/qnHfferkWH
— Rep. Frederica Wilson (@RepWilson) April 24, 2025
However, Wilson did not distinguish between illegal aliens subject to detention and deportation under U.S. law and lawful immigrants who enter through the country’s established immigration process.
Federal immigration law grants ICE authority to detain and deport individuals who enter or remain in the United States illegally.
Deportation efforts have been a major focus of the Trump administration’s immigration policy, particularly after voters expressed strong support for stricter immigration enforcement in the 2024 election.
Despite Democratic calls for expanded protections for those in the country illegally, public opinion has leaned heavily toward stronger enforcement.
Recent polling indicates a majority of Americans back deportations of illegal aliens and favor tightening border controls.
Wilson’s comments come at a time when Democrats have faced criticism for their handling of immigration issues.
Earlier this year, Democratic lawmakers were criticized after voicing support for an alleged MS-13 gang member caught in ICE custody.
The move drew outrage from voters concerned about violent crime linked to illegal immigration.
The Democrat congresswoman’s remarks are likely to fuel further debate over the future of immigration policy heading into the next legislative session.
As of Thursday evening, Wilson’s office had not responded to media requests for clarification on her use of the terms “threaten” and “uprising.”
ICE officials have not issued a statement in response to Wilson’s allegations.
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