Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a U.S. Congresswoman representing Washington’s 7th district since 2017, voiced strong criticism of former President Donald Trump and the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in a series of tweets posted on January 8, 2026.
On her Twitter account, Jayapal wrote: “So Trump now wants to waste $5 BILLION to stroke his own ego and fulfill some imperialist dream. This is dangerous and not what the American people want.” (January 8, 2026).
In a subsequent tweet later that evening, Jayapal addressed reports from Seattle: “I’m monitoring reports that armed and masked ICE agents kidnapped three men into an unmarked van in Seattle. ICE has no place in our community. Get the hell out of our city. I’ll keep working with local leaders to ensure Seattle is a safe place for all.” (January 8, 2026).
Later that night, she continued her criticism of the administration’s immigration enforcement tactics by referencing an incident in Minneapolis: “How can Americans trust a single word from this administration when they are telling us not to believe what we can see with our own eyes? ICE shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis. It’s on video. We have all seen it. We won’t believe Trump’s lies.” (January 8, 2026).
Jayapal has been active in public service since serving in the Washington State Senate from 2014 to 2016 before being elected to Congress, where she succeeded Jim McDermott. She was born in Chennai in 1965 and currently resides in Seattle. Jayapal holds degrees from Georgetown University and Northwestern University.
