Hawley: ICE raid leaks show that 'deep state is real'

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) said during a Fox News interview on Tuesday that leaks about ICE raids in various parts of the country were proof that the "deep state is real" and called for leakers to be fired and prosecuted.

Hawley responded to a question about anti-ICE activists harassing ICE and Border Patrol agents, saying, “Yes, it’s absolutely outrageous, Kayleigh. And listen, it’s not just anti-ICE activists outside the federal government."

He continued, “What worries me is we have seen leaks from within the government trying to impede ICE, trying to impede these raids. We’ve seen leaks about operations in Chicago, in Los Angeles, in other parts of the country. We’ve seen them come from within the FBI, according to the DHS Secretary, we’ve seen them come from within ICE, within DHS apparently. This has got to stop.”

The lawmaker then blamed the leaks on the deep state, which is composed of entrenched, unelected bureaucrats and officials who oppose the current administration and try to work against it.

"This is the deep state at work, and we have got to figure out who is illegally leaking this information, and they need to be fired. And if possible, they need to be prosecuted,” he said.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said Tuesday that some ICE leakers have been caught and face termination and other unspecified "consequences" for their actions.