Democratic National Committee Debates on ICE Abolition and Reform

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) recently debated whether to abolish or reform U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This discussion highlights opposition to former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and reveals disagreement within the party as the midterm elections approach.

During their summer meeting, the committee approved a range of policy positions. Among these are calls for “concrete reforms” of ICE and, alternatively, the agency’s abolition. ICE, a focal point of progressive frustration since the first Trump administration in 2018, has faced renewed scrutiny following two fatal incidents involving the agency in July.

The votes taken at this meeting are not binding and do not officially establish the party’s platform; this will be decided at the 2028 convention. Nevertheless, they illustrate the party’s divided stance on a key matter. As such, candidates and lawmakers will need to establish their own positions independently.

Michele Johnson, a DNC member from Louisiana, proposed the measure to abolish ICE. She emphasized the necessity for Democrats to adopt a decisive position, referencing the previous dissolution of ICE’s predecessor, the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Johnson criticized the party’s cautious approach: “I think one of the reasons why people are not trusting the party is because we sound so academic,” she stated.

Opposition within the DNC also surfaced. Yvonne Reeves-Chong voted against abolishing ICE, arguing it would only resonate with a segment of the party while alienating other voters. “I would strongly suggest we get to the business of winning races so we can make the policies that make a difference,” she advised.

DNC Chairman Ken Martin, hailing from Minnesota where ICE-related shootings occurred, remarked that the consensus among Democrats is the condemnation of the administration’s approach to immigration. “Clearly, the one thing that unites Democrats, regardless of their position on reform versus abolish or whatever other ways to change what’s happening, is people believe that what ICE is doing right now … should stop,” Martin explained. “There has to be a better way.”

According to a recent poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, immigration stands as a more impactful issue for Trump than the economy or Iran, even after July’s tragic incidents involving ICE. The survey indicates that only 39% of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s handling of immigration, a decrease from 49% early in his second term.