Sen. Chris Van Hollen Opposes Funding for ICE

On a recent episode of ABC’s “This Week,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) declared he would refuse to support funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the current administration.

Here’s a glimpse of the discussion:

JONATHAN KARL: You mentioned that regarding Minnesota, you won’t approve any funds for President Trump’s ICE operations until reforms are enacted. What specific changes are you advocating for, and do you believe this strategy will be effective?

Van Hollen: Essentially, yes. As I stated, I won’t cast a vote to endorse what I view as a lawless and severe operation under Trump’s ICE. Unless we see significant reforms to address this issue, I can’t support it. Just recently, a federal judge found that ICE agents have violated constitutional rights by interfering with peaceful protests. So, I think major changes are crucial. Given the current administration, I don’t anticipate any movements in that direction, which is why we’re withholding funding.

KARL: Many in your party and the protesters seem to resonate more with the sentiment to abolish ICE rather than reform it. Your colleague Ruben Gallego referred to ICE as “an absolute problem,” asserting that they operate without control. Are you concerned that the idea of abolishing ICE might pose a challenge for your party? Many people may have issues with its actions but still feel immigration laws need to be upheld.

Van Hollen: Absolutely, but the core issue is that it’s ICE officers who are breaking the law, not the peaceful protesters. Thus, I firmly believe we shouldn’t fund ICE operations at this stage since they operate unlawfully. We need foundational reform. Trump claimed he would target the worst offenders, yet data shows that about 80 percent of those arrested are not a public threat. Instead of addressing those statistics, they’ve erased the data from public view.