Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., suggested that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was perceived in a similar way to the Ku Klux Klan during a confirmation hearing of Ronald Vitiello, the nominee to head the agency.

Harris asked Vitiello if he believed the public's perception of ICE was creating fear and distrust in the way the KKK did last century.

Specifically, she wanted to know about Vitiello's 2015 tweet that said the Democratic Party was comparable to a "liberal-cratic" or "neo-Klanist" entity. The tweet was in response to conservative radio host Mark Levin, who had been discussing the Democratic Party's role in 20th century segregation.

"What is the history that would then make those words wrong?" Harris asked about the KKK during a Thursday confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

The Republican National Committee pounced on the exchange to accuse Harris, a likely Democratic presidential candidate in 2020, of comparing ICE officers to Klansmen and sent out a video clip from the hearing. Ronna McDaniel, RNC chairwoman, said: "Kamala Harris is trying to launch her 2020 campaign off of comparing ICE officers to the KKK, and it's absolutely disgusting."





Vitiello said the KKK would, in today's terminology, be labeled a domestic terrorist group. Harris about the group's motivation, to which Vitiello responded it was racially motivated.

"Are you aware of the perception of many about how the power and the discretion at ICE is being used to enforce the laws and do you see any parallels ..." she asked.

Vitiello interjected before Harris could name ICE and the KKK: "I do not see any parallels."

"That puts ICE in the same category as the KKK. Is that what you're asking me?" he said.

"No, I'm very specific in what I'm asking you. Are you aware of a perception that they way that they ..." Harris said.

"I see none," Vitiello said.

"Are you aware that there is a perception that ICE is administering its power in a way that is causing fear and intimidation, particularly among immigrants and specifically among immigrants coming from Mexico and Central America?" she asked.

VItiello said he did not. Harris asked how he could be the head of an agency and not be aware of how some view it.

"It seems to me that you would understand that when you use words like the words you used just three short years ago, that that would contribute to that perception," Harris said. "And it's harmful then, it's harmful, in terms of the mission of the agency and the work of the individuals there. And it is harmful in terms of leading — innocent people arriving at our border fleeing harm, it is harmful to them."