Summary
Jake Lang, a candidate running for the U.S. Senate in Florida, proposed that members of the Proud Boys and others involved in the January 6 Capitol riot should be given authority to help enforce immigration laws. His plan involves deputizing these private individuals to work with law enforcement in detaining migrants without legal status. Legal experts expressed skepticism about the legality of such a proposal, pointing out its conflict with current U.S. law.
Key Facts
- Jake Lang supports using the Proud Boys and January 6 rioters to enforce immigration laws.
- He suggests deputizing them to hunt and detain undocumented migrants.
- The Proud Boys are known for their extremist views and were involved in the Capitol riot.
- Lang participated in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack and faced multiple charges.
- President Trump pardoned many January 6 participants, including Lang, in 2025.
- Legal experts state that current U.S. law largely limits such deputization to trained law enforcement officers.
- Experts highlight that deputizing private groups like the Proud Boys is legally problematic due to their history.
- Lang's proposal has sparked concerns about its implications for a police state.
