The next is the transcript of the interview with Home Majority Chief Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Jan. 25, 2026.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we flip now to Home Majority Chief Steve Scalise, who joins us from New Orleans. Good morning to you.
HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER STEVE SCALISE: Good morning, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I do know along with being a pacesetter in Congress, you’ve got this distinctive expertise of getting been the sufferer of political violence your self. You understand how harmful rhetoric might be. We have heard a number of anger previously 24 hours, and your fellow Louisianan Senator Invoice Cassidy mentioned the occasions in Minneapolis are usually not solely extremely disturbing, however the credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake. He referred to as for a joint federal and state investigation. Would you be part of his name?
LEADER SCALISE: Nicely, I do not query the credibility of ICE. They’re doing an extremely arduous job. They’re- look we’re all, simply remorseful about what occurred in Minneapolis. And this has occurred time and again. I imply, I am not simply speaking about relating to ICE. I imply, they have some failed native management. They let their metropolis burn down years in the past. They’ve chaos, it looks as if on a regular basis in locations the place different cities do not. ICE is working in a number of cities, Margaret, and you do not have these sort of incidents in another metropolis however Minneapolis–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — You do not- do not see these numbers both?– .
LEADER SCALISE: — and so, I want yesterday did not occur. What’s that?
MARGARET BRENNAN: You do not see these numbers both, although, once we checked out, for instance, on the federal response in New Orleans. I imply, it is only a fraction of the variety of federal brokers. Practically 3,000 is quite a bit for a metropolis the dimensions of Minneapolis.
LEADER SCALISE: Nicely, that is as a result of they did not get resistance in cities like New Orleans, the place, you already know, if you look in Minneapolis, and I simply listened to the chief, and you might hear him lamenting 4 instances, I believe he mentioned that they are strapped so skinny. And let’s take note, Minneapolis is a metropolis that defunded their police. That is not the chief’s fault. That is the failed Democrat chief’s fault. However on the similar time, after they defund the police, that leaves the chief stretched skinny. And so he- was decided to not help ICE– .
MARGARET BRENNAN: — He was talking- he was speaking to- coping with the federal points. As a result of if you take a look at the Minnesota database, taking pictures victims down 76%, homicides down 67%, housebreaking down 39% year-to-date, intercourse offenses down, robberies down, motorized vehicle theft is up. So he was speaking in regards to the response- the deal that they’ve now, that the stretch they’ve now coping with the federal brokers who’re there.
LEADER SCALISE: Nicely, however keep in mind, these brokers have additionally arrested 1000’s of violent criminals in Minneapolis. That is one of many causes that crime is down, and we’re seeing that throughout the nation. ICE- look once more, anytime one thing unhealthy occurs, all of us lament that. I want it did not occur. However the rhetoric does have to be toned down, however we additionally want to recollect, why is ICE doing this in cities? They’re implementing federal legislation, Margaret. The legislation says you may’t be right here illegally and if you happen to’re committing violent crimes. The President made it clear, in truth, he was elected. President Trump was elected to do away with criminals in our communities. 416,000 criminals have been arrested by ICE simply within the final 12 months. That has helped make our communities safer.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, it is attention-grabbing you carry up the politics of this, as a result of undoubtedly, the President was elected on the platform of immigration enforcement. There was a number of help for it. However our newest ballot reveals greater than half of People say ICE is making communities much less protected, nearly two thirds of People say they dislike the President’s strategy to his deportation program. There may be not public help for the best way this coverage is being carried out. Do you suppose there must be a reassessment?
LEADER SCALISE: Nicely, if you happen to requested folks in a ballot, would you like violent criminals which are right here illegally in your group? Sure or no? What do you suppose the reply goes to be? I’ll inform you, overwhelmingly, they may say, please get the violent criminals out. The truth is, you are seeing that on the bottom in lots of, many cities the place they’re cooperating with ICE, the place they do not have sanctuary metropolis insurance policies, and the place you do not see by the best way, folks going within the streets breaking the legislation to intervene with legislation enforcement, which is a felony.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You could have been a supporter of the Second Modification. When Secretary Noem says, “I do not know of any peaceable protester that reveals up with a gun and ammo reasonably than an indication.” Do you consider People have the appropriate to bear arms whereas they’re protesting?
LEADER SCALISE: Nicely, to begin with, I am a co-sponsor of Louisiana’s legislation that permits you to have a hid carry allow. It is labored very properly there. I do not know the state legislation in Minnesota. I do know in a state like Louisiana, and albeit, most states, you aren’t allowed to hold a gun whilst you’re committing one other crime and interfering with legislation enforcement is a felony. It is one thing that, sadly, we’re seeing in a number of cities. You even had the police chief yesterday, Chief O’Hara, that you simply simply had on, yesterday mentioned of the protests occurring after the taking pictures, that they had been illegal. Sure, he truly mentioned it was an illegal meeting, what lots of people are doing. And so they had been throwing issues at ICE brokers. Throwing projectiles that would hurt ICE agents–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Yeah, he wasn’t speaking in regards to the sufferer —
LEADER SCALISE: — So, let’s tone this down. And-and leaders in Minnesota, by the best way, have been ratcheting up the rhetoric. I imply, you noticed the governor, Governor Walz mentioned they’re Gestapo. He mentioned they’re violently hurting folks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I will need to take this industrial break and allow you to end the thought on the opposite facet of it. In case you may stick with us, Chief, we’ve extra questions. We’ll be proper again.
[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome again to Face the Nation and Home Majority Chief Steve Scalise. Chief, we’ve seen a letter that Legal professional Normal Pam Bondi despatched to Governor Walz out in Minnesota, providing to finish the federal surge if the state does plenty of issues, amongst them giving entry to the meals help packages and voter registration logs. What is the function of that? What is the intent?
LEADER SCALISE: Nicely, I have never learn that letter between Pam Bondi and the governor, however I do know that we’re investigating tens of billions of {dollars} of potential fraud popping out of Minnesota. There have been hearings which have already been held. We have now a number of whistle blowers speaking to us about main theft of taxpayer cash popping out of Minnesota, and these are stealing packages from studying facilities, from disabled college students, packages which are being stolen, and the Governor did nothing about it. Congress is–
MARGARET BRENNAN:– However voter registration logs?–
LEADER SCALISE: — Investigating that aggressively.
MARGARET BRENNAN: As a conservative, does not that make you a bit uncomfortable that they are demanding the state hand- hand over voter registration logs like, what is the function of that to finish ICE enforcement?
LEADER SCALISE: Nicely, I have never seen the letter. I do know- I do know we’re attempting in Congress to cope with placing legal guidelines on the books that may make it possible for we shield the integrity of the vote nationwide. States like Minnesota have had issues with voter integrity. We wish a nationwide customary, the SAVE Act, which makes positive illegals cannot vote, but in addition ensuring you present an image ID. These are issues we’re pushing for that is throughout the board federally.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Non-citizens can not vote. However I wish to ask you ICE- about all of the issues which have occurred this week, even earlier than that taking pictures in Minnesota. ICE has mentioned his officers can go into houses with out judicial warrants. ICE shot unarmed Renee Good, as you already know, claimed that she was a home terrorist. An FBI agent resigned after she was ordered to not examine the officer who shot her. ICE detained at the least 5 youngsters, together with five-year-old Liam Ramos, who was taken into custody by males in masks. Does this image sound correct to you? Are you comfy with how that is being carried out?
LEADER SCALISE: Let’s remember that the 5 12 months outdated’s father was right here illegally and was evading legislation enforcement and deserted his youngster. ICE actually–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –the family–
LEADER SCALISE: –protected the child–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –The household disputes that. The administration has an issue with the earlier administration’s authorized system for asylum, that’s- they do not just like the app he used to file for asylum.
[START CROSSTALK]
LEADER SCALISE: Nicely, Joe- Joe Biden allowed–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –And so they dispute that he fled–.
LEADER SCALISE: –millions of individuals to return into our nation illegally, together with very violent folks, Margaret–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –However they’re retroactively attempting to vary the legality of the status–
LEADER SCALISE: –people from prisons in different international locations. President Trump was elected. The primary problem final 12 months was President Trump saying–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –Completely–
LEADER SCALISE: — I will safe the border, and he is doing it. But in addition he is eradicating violent folks. 416,000–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –The daddy didn’t have a legal report of any sort of violence–
LEADER SCALISE: –criminals- illegals have been arrested by ICE. 416,000 have been arrested by ICE. These are very unhealthy folks, by the way–
MARGARET BRENNAN: 47% of ICE detainees have legal prices or convictions. 47%.
LEADER SCALISE: –ICE simply put up an internet site. Not ICE, Homeland Safety, worst of the worst DHS. Go Google worst of the worst DHS. State by state, they present you all of the folks which have been picked up in every state. Your state, you’ll find out horrible folks, murderers, rapists, that they picked up that might be on the street–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –That does not apply to the daddy or five-year-old Liam–
LEADER SCALISE: –today if President Trump wasn’t securing this nation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: –or the 2 12 months outdated who was separated from her mom.
LEADER SCALISE: –that father was right here illegally and deserted his child–
MARGARET BRENNAN: They aren’t the worst of the worst, are they?
LEADER SCALISE: –Go take a look at the web site. It reveals you who they picked up–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –Are they the worst of the worst, sir?
LEADER SCALISE: 416,000 folks with violent legal information. These are people- and by the best way, America right now has the bottom homicide charge that we have had since 1900 partly due to President Trump’s actions to get these violent folks off our streets. 416,000 have been eliminated. Would you like them nonetheless out on our streets?
MARGARET BRENNAN: No.
LEADER SCALISE: I do not suppose most individuals do.
MARGARET BRENNAN: No and I do not think–
LEADER SCALISE: –It is a arduous job ICE has.
MARGARET BRENNAN: –They do, indeed–
LEADER SCALISE: And native legislation enforcement, native officers, the mayor, the governor, shouldn’t be encouraging folks to exit on the streets and break the legislation by interfering with legislation enforcement. That is a felony to intervene with legislation enforcement–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –And Americans are involved about Americans being shot, and that is why we’re asking the questions–
LEADER SCALISE: Yeah, and we do not have that chaos in different cities.
MARGARET BRENNAN: -about the tax payer funded federal–
LEADER SCALISE: –Minneapolis has its personal problems–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay.
LEADER SCALISE: –failed management that has led to a number of this, and it is unlucky it occurred. I want it did not occur. Their failed leaders have to look within the mirror and tone it down.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I’ve to go subsequent to our subsequent visitor. Chief Scalise, thanks to your time right now.
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