Markwayne Mullin, the Secretary of Homeland Security, is responding strongly to a progressive House Democrat who is advocating for significant changes to the department. This comes as Rep. Delia Ramirez from Illinois, a member of the progressive “Squad,” introduces a bill aimed at dismantling much of the DHS and eliminating Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Mullin expressed his concerns, stating, “Radical leftists are calling to defund the police and abolish DHS. It’s NEVER going to happen. Our 270,000 DHS patriots are keeping Americans SAFE — unlike this open-borders politician who refuses to prioritize Americans over illegal aliens,” during a conversation with Fox News Digital.
His spokesperson added that Ramirez should be grateful to law enforcement for their efforts in removing dangerous criminals from her district rather than vilifying them. The spokesperson further mentioned that the kind of rhetoric Ramirez is using is contributing to an alarming spike—over 1,300%—in assaults against law enforcement officials who risk their lives daily.
“While sanctuary politicians smear ICE, law enforcement is arresting criminals and saving countless American lives,” the spokesperson noted.
The DHS also highlighted a list of illegal immigrants arrested in Illinois, which included individuals with serious convictions, such as Rumen Georgriev, who was found guilty of “rape with a weapon,” Abdukadir Haji from Somalia for “sex assault and rape,” and Cuban national Samuel Reyes-Silva, convicted of “robbery and homicide.”
Ramirez’s proposed legislation, called the Reimagining Safety Act, seeks to replace the existing DHS with a new “Department of Community Safety,” while retaining certain agencies like the TSA, FEMA, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Coast Guard, and customs functions. The bill would abolish ICE and initiate the formation of a separate civil immigration system, while also eliminating Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the agency responsible for border enforcement.
Calls among Democrats to abolish ICE have increased recently, largely due to bipartisan dissatisfaction with President Trump’s immigration policies, reigniting discussions particularly after a Venezuelan national was shot by agents in Austin, Texas. Furthermore, there has been backlash following incidents where federal immigration officials were involved in the deaths of two U.S. citizens earlier this year.
Ramirez’s bill aims not just to reform but to fundamentally dismantle the current immigration enforcement framework by advocating for the elimination of both CBP and ICE.
In her response to the criticism from the Trump administration, 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 emphasized that the public holds the power to reshape the government, advocating for a department rooted in the best of their ideals and capable of supporting each other during challenging times.
“Markwayne and DHS will keep spreading cheap lies and fearmongering in a desperate attempt to save face because dismantling DHS and building something new is part of how we hold them accountable, stop corruption, and end their lawlessness,” she concluded.
