Government Response to Calls for ICE Abolition
The Trump administration has responded strongly to a Democratic congresswoman’s proposal to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
Representative Delia Ramirez from Illinois announced legislation that would dismantle the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), eliminate ICE, and reallocate those funds to create a new department focused on community-based justice initiatives.
In response, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin criticized the proposal, asserting, “Radical leftists are calling to defund the police and abolish DHS. It’s NEVER going to happen,” adding that “our 270,000 DHS patriots are keeping Americans SAFE — unlike this open borders politician who refuses to prioritize Americans over illegal aliens.”
A DHS spokesperson further emphasized the importance of ICE, providing a list of dangerous criminals deported from the U.S., and remarked that “Representative Ramirez should be thanking our law enforcement for removing these dangerous criminals from her district — NOT vilifying law enforcement.”
In a detailed response via email to Blaze News, Ramirez stated, “Every day, Americans wake up with a new reason to dismantle DHS, reimagine safety, and build something that honors our shared humanity.” She advocated for a government structure that, instead of being “the weapon DHS has proven to be,” focuses on community care during tough times.
Further discussing her proposed “Reimagining Safety Act,” Ramirez mentioned that it aims to protect key agencies like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Coast Guard while reallocating funds back to local communities. She stated that the dismantling of DHS was necessary to promote accountability and combat corruption.
Additionally, she made the point that her vision for a new criminal justice department would prioritize community needs over surveillance and oppressive measures. Her earlier comments about identifying primarily as a “proud Guatemalan” before being an American had drawn some backlash.
