Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA) took to TikTok on Saturday night to lash out at federal immigration authorities amid ongoing law enforcement operations in Los Angeles. “ICE get out of L.A. so that order can be restored,” the congresswoman declared in a video filmed mid-flight and shared on her account “ntorres35.”
Torres, a Guatemalan-born Democrat who entered the U.S. illegally as a child in 1970, posted the video while ICE agents were carrying out arrests of illegal migrants across the city. The operations have sparked violent protests and prompted a surge of commentary from progressive lawmakers as Congress considers a bill aimed at curbing illegal migration with expanded enforcement and funding.
In a follow-up video, Torres claimed that ICE had deployed a “chemical agent” near a federal building to prevent members of Congress from doing their job. “Suddenly we are all coughing and… having a very tough time of breathing,” she said. However, others visible in the video appeared unaffected and showed no visible signs of distress.
Despite the allegations, no confirmation has been provided that chemical agents were used, and ICE has not commented on the claim. Torres went on to argue that federal deployments in the city are inflammatory, tweeting, “We need calm—not troops… We need solutions, not showdowns.”
Torres is one of the most outspoken pro-migration voices in Congress, earning an “F-” rating from NumbersUSA, a group that advocates for lower levels of legal and illegal immigration. Her comments come during a pivotal moment as lawmakers weigh billions in border security funding and the future direction of U.S. immigration policy.
Torres’s claims have intensified the divide between pro-enforcement immigration advocates and progressive lawmakers. Critics argue her rhetoric undermines law enforcement and stokes public distrust during already volatile conditions. Supporters, however, see her as giving voice to concerns about federal overreach and the treatment of migrants and their advocates. The incident adds fuel to the broader national debate over immigration policy and the limits of federal authority in sanctuary cities like Los Angeles.
