Senator Cory Booker had been floated as a new type of democratic ‘hero’ after he filmed a 30 hour filibuster. He was heralded by the scions of print journalism as well as MSNBC. https://www.booker.senate.gov/senator-bookers-marathon-speech That praise was wasted. Filming a filibuster while ensconced in the chambers of the US Senate is not exactly the equivalent of someone like Congresswoman LaMonica McIver.

McIver was the congresswoman who heroically attempted to fulfill her congressional duties by conducting a spontaneous inspection of the ICE detention center in her own district. For her efforts, (along with two of her congressional colleagues), she was beaten, arrested, and is now facing ‘trumped up’ aka fraudulent federal charges with a possible sentence of 17 years in prison, if convicted. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/17/lamonica-mciver-congress-new-jersey-charge THAT is heroism.

What Cory Booker accomplished with his televised filibuster was free publicity for a future presidential run. https://wach.com/news/local/gallery/senator-cory-booker-mum-about-possible-presidential-run-while-visiting-south-carolina-senator-cory-booker-naacp-new-jersey?photo=1 Nothing but political theater by yet another ambitious attorney. Now, the reason for this piece isn’t Booker’s cheap filibuster; it’s his asinine video bemoaning the lack of training granted new ICE agents these days, as the cause of present ICE abuses. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1214595017292598 https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/we-must-do-more Booker has further proposed legislation which would ‘professionalize’ ICE with stringent training requirements. He believes that such improved training will remedy the current lawlessness and abuse being dished out by ICE. 

Now in all fairness, the proposed legislation has several good provisions. Not only would it ensure minimum standards for hiring, but it would prohibit “accelerated or abbreviated training programs.” https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-announces-new-legislation-to-strengthen-federal-law-enforcement-standards-and-transparency-after-fatal-shooting-of-minneapolis-woman There are multiple bullet points provided in Booker’s press release. Point #6 would…”prohibit the hiring of individuals affiliated with hate groups, affirming that federal law enforcement must be free from extremism and bias.” https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-announces-new-legislation-to-strengthen-federal-law-enforcement-standards-and-transparency-after-fatal-shooting-of-minneapolis-woman Though this condition sounds lovely in a press release; there would be obvious 1st amendment constitutional challenges, so enforcement could be difficult. The bill would also … “limit eligibility for individuals with certain prior criminal convictions and prohibit the restoration of........

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