Democrats disagree over abolishing or reforming ICE at DNC meeting

At the Democratic National Committee’s summer meeting in Austin, Texas, party members debated whether to abolish or reform U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The issue stemmed from President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration policies and recent fatal encounters involving ICE agents. The DNC approved both a call for reform and a proposal to abolish ICE, reflecting the party’s divided stance on the matter.

Michele Johnson, a Louisiana DNC member, proposed abolishing ICE, citing the dissolution of its predecessor agency as precedent and highlighting the lack of trust in Democrats due to perceived focus on polls and focus groups rather than decisive action. Not all members agreed, with Yvonne Reeves-Chong voting against the measure, arguing that it would only resonate with a portion of the party’s base while alienating others.

DNC Chairman Ken Martin, from Minnesota, where two immigration enforcement officials were fatally shot, emphasized that Democrats find ICE’s and Customs and Border Protection’s actions unacceptable. He stressed that unifying Democrats is the belief that the current operations of ICE, CBP, and the federal government must cease, and that there must be a better way forward.

Despite the party’s differing views, immigration remained a stronger issue for Trump than the economy or foreign policy, according to a recent AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll.