Rep. Shri Thanedar has become the target of a torrent of online attacks after saying he plans to introduce legislation to dismantle U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Michigan Democrat’s remarks quickly drew outrage from allies of President Donald Trump, with critics flooding social media with hostile comments.
Many of the posts went beyond policy disagreements, zeroing in on Thanedar’s personal background and citizenship in an effort to discredit him.
Thanedar argued that ICE has crossed a line and can no longer be salvaged through tweaks or oversight. He told reporters that the agency has operated with little accountability, saying it has gone “beyond reform.” For that reason, he said he intends to introduce legislation to abolish ICE altogether, describing the agency as “out of control” and insisting it should be dismantled, not patched up.
READ: Jail or deportation: Viral account on Infosys employee’s ordeal shakes Indian tech community (
His remarks came just days after a fatal shooting in Minneapolis that has become a national flashpoint. On Jan. 7, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen and mother of three, during a federal enforcement action in the city.
While Thanedar made clear he backs a Republican Cabinet impeachment push in the wake of the Minneapolis shooting, publicly throwing his support behind efforts to hold Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accountable. He accused Noem of misleading Congress and the public about ICE operations and of turning the agency into a force that has “wreaked havoc” on everyday communities — a charge that aligns with the broader Democratic criticism of her oversight of DHS and ICE.
House Democrats, led by Rep. Robin Kelly and joined by more than 70 of their colleagues, have since formally introduced three articles of impeachment against Noem — including obstruction of Congress, violations of public trust and self-dealing.
As Thanedar floated the idea of abolishing ICE, he drew fierce responses from conservative corners of social media. On X, one user blasted him, writing, “Rep. Shri Thanedar, who can barely even speak English, announces he’s introducing a bill to ABOLISH ICE. Tell this foreigner to go pound sand. REAL Americans back ICE and ICE’s mission. And honestly, I’d back ICE deporting this loser too.”
READ: ICE continues to terrorize Minnesota citizens after murder of Renee Good (
Another post took aim at his role in Congress: “The fact that this guy is a Congressman is just a complete embarrassment to our nation.” A separate critic added, “Him and Omar need to be deported,” and another wrote, “The fact they’re working together on this bill reinforces my point that foreigners shouldn’t be allowed in Congress.” One comment summed up the hostile tone of the thread with, “I can smell this video.”
Thanedar serves as the U.S. Representative for Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, which covers Detroit and parts of Wayne County. He was elected to Congress in 2022 after a tenure in the Michigan House of Representatives, where he focused on education funding and state budget issues.
Born in Southern India, Thanedar grew up in poverty and moved to the United States in 1979 to pursue advanced studies in chemistry. He earned a PhD, became a U.S. citizen in 1988, and later built several successful pharmaceutical companies in Michigan. His rise from modest beginnings to entrepreneurial success is often cited as a quintessential example of the American Dream. Before his congressional run, Thanedar also sought the governor’s office in Michigan and served multiple terms in the state legislature.