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 [1] 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.
Insha Rahman, VP of the Vera Institute of Justice, stirred controversy by stating migrant crime and carjackings “don’t matter to that many Americans” during a DNC meeting. She urged Democrats to counter Trump’s crime narrative, labeling it a “political liability.” pic.twitter.com/x64WJtUP2l [2]
— That Smoke Pit Veteran (@thatsmokepit) August 26, 2025 [3]
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.”
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.”
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.
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.”
Speaker at the DNC’s Summer Meeting: “Migrant crime and carjackings are things that don’t matter to many Americans.” WTF
Uhhh I’m pretty sure most people don’t want to be carjacked or attacked by an illegal alien.
Outrageous for Insha Rahman of the Vera Institute to dismiss… pic.twitter.com/i8ebaQsyHz [4]
— Lou D’Angelo~ AMERICAN PATRIOT. (@LD75101776) August 26, 2025 [5]
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.
“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!”
Who has given money to the George Soros-tied Vera Institute?
The Biden DOJ, the Open Society Foundations, Rockefeller, Tides, the Ford Foundation and MacKenzie Scott.
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) August 26, 2025 [6]
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.”
This Democrat Speaker is a member of the Vera Institute of Justice which advocates for defunding the police. https://t.co/g2HlHkPzMn [7] pic.twitter.com/RX4TRvnsWq [8]
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) August 25, 2025 [9]
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.
