Social media erupted Monday after a Democratic National Committee speaker dismissed concerns about migrant crime and carjackings during a party strategy session in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as reported by Fox News.

Insha Rahman, vice president of advocacy and partnerships at the Vera Institute of Justice, told Democrats that issues like migrant crime “don’t matter to that many Americans” and warned party leaders not to “take the bait” in addressing them.

Rahman’s comments came during the DNC’s summer meeting in a panel discussion on crime and safety. She said Democrats should frame President Donald Trump’s recent anti-crime measures as a “political liability.”

“Trump is not about safety,” Rahman said. “This is a political power grab, and he will do it however he can, whether that’s at the ballot box or taking over our cities.”

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Her remarks immediately drew attention because of the Vera Institute’s record on law enforcement issues. In 2020, during nationwide protests after the death of George Floyd, the organization declared, “We must dismantle the current culture of policing in the United States.”

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The Vera Institute also stated it supported “the outrage we’re seeing” and announced its intention to build on the moment to push calls to “defund the police.”

Fox News Digital has previously reported on the Vera Institute’s ties to former President Joe Biden’s Justice Department and billionaire donor George Soros.

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In 2022, the nonprofit secured a $171.7 million federal contract to provide legal services to unaccompanied minors, according to federal records.

During her Monday remarks, Rahman told Democrats: “Don’t take the bait in talking about migrant crime or carjackings or the things that actually don’t matter to that many Americans, and then go to the policy proposals that we think work.”

The clip spread rapidly across X, where Republicans and conservatives criticized both Rahman and her organization.

“Who has given money to the George Soros-tied Vera Institute?” conservative commentator Steve Guest posted.

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“The Biden DOJ, the Open Society Foundations, Rockefeller, Tides, the Ford Foundation and MacKenzie Scott. Vera Institute in turn supports BLM and numerous left wing causes. FOLLOW THE MONEY!”

The Republican National Committee’s research account also weighed in, writing, “This Democrat Speaker is a member of the Vera Institute of Justice which advocates for defunding the police.”

The Project for Immigration Reform pointed to the organization’s finances, posting that Rahman “makes over $300k in salary according to last year’s tax filings, and the Vera Institute brought in around $140 million in revenue.”

Rahman also addressed Trump’s recent executive order eliminating cashless bail for suspects arrested in Washington, D.C.

“They want money and privilege and to give a handout to the bail bondsman while we want to make sure safety, not wealth, determines who stays in jail and who goes home to their families,” she said.

She advised Democrats not to allow Trump to take credit for lowering crime rates.

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WASHINGTON – February 22, 2025: President Donald Trump arrives at the White House South Lawn on Marine One after his visit to CPAC.

“It’s going down in spite of him and because of Democratic leadership like mine. That is the phrase you want to use. Don’t be afraid of the crime debate. Lean all the way in. Call out what Trump is doing and say, ‘The reason crime is going down, our communities are becoming safer, is because of us,’” Rahman said.

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Rahman defended her organization’s broader stance on policing, saying:

“I’m not about scare tactics or slogans. I’m not afraid to have an honest conversation. We keep expecting police to solve every social problem. No one profession can do that. We’re spending too much and putting too much burden on them. It’s time to pry out some promising new solutions to lift the burden. It’s time for support and change, not blame.”

Fox News Digital reported that both the DNC and the Vera Institute did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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