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 could have this distinctive expertise of getting been the sufferer of political violence your self. You know the way harmful rhetoric may be. We have heard quite a lot of anger prior to now 24 hours, and your fellow Louisianan Senator Invoice Cassidy mentioned the occasions in Minneapolis will not be 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: Effectively, I do not query the credibility of ICE. They’re doing an extremely exhausting job. They’re- look we’re all, simply remorseful about what occurred in Minneapolis. And this has occurred over and over. 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 quite a lot 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, after 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. Almost 3,000 is rather a lot for a metropolis the dimensions of Minneapolis.
LEADER SCALISE: Effectively, that is as a result of they did not get resistance in cities like New Orleans, the place, you recognize, once you look in Minneapolis, and I simply listened to the chief, and you could possibly hear him lamenting 4 occasions, I believe he mentioned that they are strapped so skinny. And let’s be mindful, 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 identical time, once 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 once you have 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: Effectively, 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 imposing federal regulation, Margaret. The regulation says you may’t be right here illegally and in case you’re committing violent crimes. The President made it clear, actually, 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: Effectively, it is fascinating you deliver up the politics of this, as a result of undoubtedly, the President was elected on the platform of immigration enforcement. There was quite a lot of help for it. However our newest ballot reveals greater than half of Individuals say ICE is making communities much less protected, nearly two thirds of Individuals say they dislike the President’s method to his deportation program. There may be not public help for the way in which this coverage is being applied. Do you suppose there must be a reassessment?
LEADER SCALISE: Effectively, in case you requested individuals 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. In truth, 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 way in which, individuals going within the streets breaking the regulation to intervene with regulation enforcement, which is a felony.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’ve 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 somewhat than an indication.” Do you consider Individuals have the appropriate to bear arms whereas they’re protesting?
LEADER SCALISE: Effectively, initially, I am a co-sponsor of Louisiana’s regulation that means that you can have a hid carry allow. It is labored very effectively there. I do not know the state regulation in Minnesota. I do know in a state like Louisiana, and admittedly, most states, you aren’t allowed to hold a gun when you’re committing one other crime and interfering with regulation enforcement is a felony. It is one thing that, sadly, we’re seeing in quite a lot 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 really mentioned it was an illegal meeting, what lots of people are doing. They usually 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 way in which, have been ratcheting up the rhetoric. I imply, you noticed the governor, Governor Walz mentioned they’re Gestapo. He mentioned they’re violently hurting individuals.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I’ll should take this industrial break and allow you to end the thought on the opposite aspect of it. In case you might stick with us, Chief, we’ve got 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 got seen a letter that Legal professional Common 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: Effectively, 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. Now we have quite a lot 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, would not that make you a bit of 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: Effectively, I have never seen the letter. I do know- I do know we’re making an attempt in Congress to cope with placing legal guidelines on the books that can ensure that we shield the integrity of the vote nationwide. States like Minnesota have had issues with voter integrity. We would like a nationwide normal, the SAVE Act, which makes certain 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 need 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 recognize, 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 very 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 applied?
LEADER SCALISE: Let’s understand that the 5 12 months previous’s father was right here illegally and was evading regulation 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: Effectively, Joe- Joe Biden allowed–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –They usually dispute that he fled–.
LEADER SCALISE: –millions of individuals to come back into our nation illegally, together with very violent individuals, Margaret–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –However they’re retroactively making an attempt to vary the legality of the status–
LEADER SCALISE: –people from prisons in different international locations. President Trump was elected. The primary subject final 12 months was President Trump saying–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –Completely–
LEADER SCALISE: — I’ll safe the border, and he is doing it. But additionally he is eradicating violent individuals. 416,000–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –The daddy didn’t have a felony document 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 individuals, by the way–
MARGARET BRENNAN: 47% of ICE detainees have felony expenses or convictions. 47%.
LEADER SCALISE: –ICE simply put up a web 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 individuals which were picked up in every state. Your state, yow will discover out horrible individuals, 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 previous who was separated from her mom.
LEADER SCALISE: –that father was right here illegally and deserted his child–
MARGARET BRENNAN: They don’t seem to be the worst of the worst, are they?
LEADER SCALISE: –Go have 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 individuals with violent felony information. These are people- and by the way in which, America right now has the bottom homicide fee that we have had since 1900 partly due to President Trump’s actions to get these violent individuals 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: –This can be a exhausting job ICE has.
MARGARET BRENNAN: –They do, indeed–
LEADER SCALISE: And native regulation enforcement, native officers, the mayor, the governor, shouldn’t be encouraging individuals to exit on the streets and break the regulation by interfering with regulation enforcement. That is a felony to intervene with regulation 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 quite a lot 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 in your time right now.
