Concerns About the “Abolish ICE” Slogan Among Democrats

Some Democrats are expressing unease that the slogan “abolish ICE” might haunt them, similar to how “defund the police” has become notorious. Senator Ruben Gallego from Arizona has articulated that promoting this mantra could, in fact, be detrimental to their cause.

“ICE is definitely a significant issue,” Gallego mentioned. “It’s out of control and moving too swiftly,” he added in a conversation with a major news outlet.

The call to defund the police gained traction following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis officer in 2020. However, this phrase didn’t resonate as expected and eventually faded out, leaving many party members to try and distance themselves from it, especially as it negatively impacted down-ballot Democrats.

The center-left think tank, Third Way, has also cautioned Democrats against calls to eliminate ICE, stating, “The urge is emotional. The slogan is simple. Yet, politically harmful. Each time the call to abolish ICE is made, it could waste a crucial opportunity for securing significant reforms in immigration enforcement, placing them in a battle that’s precisely what Republicans seek.”

Despite some strong criticisms from local leaders like Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz regarding the federal government’s stance on immigration enforcement, the dispute remains complicated. In fact, Minnesota has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that the recent increases in immigration enforcement within the state are “illegal” and “unprecedented.”