Republican Rep. Brandon Gill has criticised Democrats for focusing on the nonfatal shooting of a Venezuelan illegal immigrant by an ICE officer in Austin, while according to his view showing insufficient concern about a separate case involving an illegal immigrant arrested for raping a teenage girl in Maryland. Gill argues that victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants are treated as "collateral damage" by Democrats pursuing amnesty policies, and predicts the left will disregard the Maryland case entirely. This reflects a broader political dispute over immigration enforcement priorities under the Trump administration.

The Maryland case involved Abdoulaye Dia, a rideshare driver from Guinea who was admitted to the US in 2023 and arrested for allegedly kidnapping and raping an underage girl during a ride; authorities believe there are additional victims. In Austin, an ICE officer shot Venezuelan driver Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, who had a removal order; Perez is in stable condition. Maryland Governor Wes Moore responded by acknowledging zero tolerance for violent criminals whilst criticising ICE's expanded budget (now $85 billion, larger than the FBI or ATF), asserting the state will handle dangerous offenders independently from federal immigration enforcement.