Karoline Leavitt Shuts Down Liberal Reporter Attacking ICE Gang Deportations [WATCH]

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded sharply on Monday to accusations from a liberal reporter suggesting that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was deporting gang members based solely on their tattoos and clothing choices.

Andrew Feinberg, a White House Correspondent for The Independent, raised concerns during a press briefing about a document that outlines the criteria for identifying members of the Venezuela-based gang Tren de Aragua (TDA).

He claimed, “You can get classified by simply having certain symbols in your tattoos and wearing certain streetwear brands. That alone is enough to get someone classified as TDA and sent to El Salvador?”

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Leavitt wasted no time in correcting him. “That’s not true, actually, Andrew,” she said before launching into a direct rebuke of Feinberg’s questioning and the broader media’s portrayal of ICE’s work.

“Have you talked to the agents who have been putting their lives on the line to detain these foreign terrorists who have been terrorizing our communities?” Leavitt asked.

She continued by emphasizing the seriousness of the issue at hand.

“TDA is a vicious gang that has taken the lives of American women, and our agents on the front lines take up deporting these people with the utmost seriousness.”

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Leavitt’s defense came in response to Feinberg’s suggestion that ICE was engaging in overzealous deportations based on superficial criteria like tattoos or clothing.

She further clarified that ICE’s actions are not based on such limited factors.

“There is a litany of criteria that they use to ensure that they qualify for deportation,” she stated.

“The president made it incredibly clear to the American public that there would be a mass deportation campaign of not just foreign terrorists, but also illegal criminal aliens who have been wreaking havoc on American communities.”

In a passionate moment, Leavitt fired back at Feinberg and the media, calling their line of questioning irresponsible.

“Shame on you and shame on the mainstream media for trying to cover for these individuals! This is a vicious gang,” she said, pointing out the severity of the threat posed by TDA.

Leavitt also took issue with Feinberg’s implied criticism of the law enforcement agents involved in these efforts.

“You are questioning the credibility of these agents who are putting their life on the line to protect your life and the life of everybody in this group and everybody across the country,” she remarked.

“And their credibility should be questioned?”

Feinberg’s question stemmed from a federal validation guide used under the Alien Enemies Act, which outlines the criteria for deportation based on suspected gang membership.

According to the guide, a suspected TDA member must score at least 8 points or more to be subject to deportation under the Alien Enemies Act (AEA).

While tattoo symbolism can contribute 4 points, and certain hand signs or graffiti markings can add another 2 points, these alone are insufficient to meet the required threshold.

The document further clarifies that at least one category must involve recent conduct or evidence within the past five years, such as criminal activity, court records, or intercepted communications, to establish active involvement in the gang.

Here’s the document I was asking @PressSec about earlier.

To be “validated” as TDA one only needs 8 points. Just having tattoos and wearing certain street wear brands can get you the requisite 8 points absent anything else. https://t.co/vRKoWFnxDg pic.twitter.com/7VsL6MNrK8

— Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) March 31, 2025

President Trump’s administration has been aggressive in its approach to immigration enforcement since returning to office in January.

Among the key elements of his administration’s efforts have been an increased number of deportations, enhanced border security, and a more stringent approach to illegal immigration.

Trump’s policy changes have included deploying thousands of military personnel to the U.S.-Mexico border, reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy for asylum seekers, and expanding the use of expedited removal proceedings.

In a high-profile example of the administration’s actions, 17 gang members were deported to El Salvador in March under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which allows the government to bypass certain due process protections for individuals classified as enemy aliens.

While this move has sparked some criticism, President Trump’s tough stance on immigration continues to resonate with a large portion of his voter base, who view his policies as crucial to protecting American communities from criminal gangs and illegal immigration.

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