Gubernatorial candidate Butch Ware has come under fire for his recent statement promising to make California ICE-free if he’s elected into office. Ware made the remarks in a video shared to his official account on X on Thursday.
In the short clip, he said, “With me as governor, we’re gonna get ICE out of the state of California. ICE is going to have to go through every single law enforcement officer and lawyer in the state of California before they so much as touch a hair on the head of any California resident.”
Ware also warned that any municipality, including police departments, that works with ICE could face consequences. He said he would unleash the “full wrath of the state” if they were found to be cooperating with what he described as the “kidnapping” or “abduction” of residents.
The video has received thousands of views, and so far, the responses have largely been negative. One netizen dismissed his comments entirely as “crazy talk,” while another wrote that what he said sounded “treasonous.” A third added, “When illegal immigration stops, ICE will disappear.” A fourth insisted, “KEEP ICE IN CALIFORNIA 🙌🏻🇺🇸.”
Some other X users were even more critical of him personally. “Where did you get your doctorate at?” one person asked. Another critic said, “You’re an incredibly stupid person.” Someone else commented, “You are what’s wrong with this country.”
According to the information on his website, Ware, who is running as a Green Party candidate, is pushing to make Medicare accessible to all, provide tuition-free higher education, and expand housing for the homeless. He also expressed his support for reparations for the descendants of enslaved people during Wednesday’s Black Ecosystem Gubernatorial Forum, where he said they are owed $14 trillion and that he is “in favor of cash payments.”
