Dean Cain, the actor best known for portraying Superman in the television series “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” in the 1990s, is joining ICE … sort of.
The 59-year-old actor, who posted a video to his Instagram account on Tuesday encouraging people to apply for positions at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told Fox News’ Jessie Watters on Wednesday that he was going to be sworn in as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent “ASAP.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed to the New York Times on Thursday that Cain would be sworn in as an “honorary ICE Officer” some time in the coming month.
ICE has launched a recruiting effort for new agents, hoping to hire 10,000 more. The Associated Press reported that age caps have been lifted for agents, and that the agency would now be accepting applicants as young as 18; previously, applicants needed to be at least 21.
Appearing on TMZ Live, Cain was asked by host Harvey Levin if his position was “symbolic” or if was going to be an active ICE agent.
“That depends on whatever (Acting ICE) Director (Todd) Lyons wants me to do,” Cain said. “Obviously I’m probably more effective behind a desk here, but I’m happy to get out and be anywhere.”
Levin pushed Cain about ICE’s tactics.
“To say that, ‘we are rounding up hardened criminals’ ― and (Trump) mentions murderers, rapists, all the other things ― I can tell you from first-hand experience; my office right here is across the street from an establishment where ICE came and they were just rounding people up,” Levin said. “They were just taking people out of a taco truck and taking people out of the establishment. There was no evidence anybody was a hardened criminal, they were just rounding up as many people as they could. So, they’re kind of painting this as something it isn’t. It isn’t really rounding up hardened criminals at all.”
“That’s fair,” Cain responded. “But if you look at it this way, they are targeting the worst of the worst. So, if you happen to be at that taco truck when the worst of the worst is nearby, they’re going to come and you are going to get caught up in that sweep. And, first of all, if you are here illegally, you shouldn’t be here.”
“People say ‘Gestapo,’ ” Cain added. “Look, they’re not trying to kill people. They’re trying to get people who are here illegally out of the country. … My heart breaks for people who are just trying to do their best, but you shouldn’t have come in illegally.”
Levin asked Cain about taking people who have been in the U.S. for decades and become part of a community.
“Do you see a difference between – and I realize it’s the same crime – but somebody who came in last week illegally and someone who’s lived here for 25 years and has a family and has paid taxes,“ Levin asked.
“You said it yourself, and you’re a lawyer,” Cain said. “It’s the same crime. I don’t make those decisions.”
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