A Republican lawmaker’s comments about ICE ramping up deportations of Haitian immigrants stunned the internet on Monday.
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Rep. Michael Rulli (R-OH) reacted to the federal agency’s plan, praising the move during an interview with Fox News.
“Let’s get them out of here. Let’s get ’em all out of here, and let’s start from the beginning,” Rulli said.
Social media users reacted to the remarks and called him out.
Journalist Aaron Rupar, who captured the clip and shared it, responded to Rulli’s statements.
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“There are a lot of cartoon villain House Republicans, but Rep. Michael Rulli is right up there on the list,” Rupar wrote on X.
Others were concerned about the message this was sending.
“Start from the beginning of what? The beginning of racism? Alright folks! We’ll start all white and go from there! Welcome back to the 1700’s!” Liberal political commentator Chris Robinson wrote on X.
“Rep. Michael Rulli should be deported with them,” X user Barb, who self-describes as a Democrat and political junkie, wrote on X.
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Democratic strategist Jon Cooper had another idea.
“Actually, Rulli should be deported INSTEAD of them,” Cooper wrote on X.
“Abhorrent and despicable,” archaeologist Jeffrey A. Becker wrote on Bluesky.
Rep. Michael Rulli on reports that ICE is preparing to mass deport of Haitians from Ohio: “Let’s get them out of here. Let’s get ’em all out of here, and let’s start from the beginning.” pic.twitter.com/pNt50ux6VX
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 27, 2026
