Democratic Lawmakers in Illinois Join Growing ICE Abolition Movement
As the Democratic Party struggles to navigate the potential impact of its "Abolish ICE" movement on the midterm elections, several lawmakers from Illinois have joined the growing chorus of Democrats calling for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Representatives Delia Ramírez, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Juliana Stratton, Daniel Biss, Kat Abughazaleh, Laura Fine, and Patty García are among those pushing for an end to ICE, despite warnings from some Democrats that the movement could alienate moderate voters.
Ramírez tweeted her support for "Abolish ICE" in January after a group called Third Way warned Democrats against joining the movement, labeling it "politically lethal." The memo argued that using extreme rhetoric would waste an opportunity to pass significant immigration reform legislation, handing Republicans a chance to score points on security and immigration issues.
"I say '¡Bien! Abolish ICE and DHS'," Ramírez wrote. "It's time for us to stop giving billions of dollars to a broken system that is hurting our communities."
Stratton, the state's vice governor, said she supports abolishing ICE because the agency is "out of control" and beyond reform.
"We've seen this in Chicago, we've seen it in Minneapolis, and violence will continue as long as ICE exists," Stratton wrote in a statement. "It's time for a new approach."
Krishnamoorthi also joined the call to abolish ICE, saying he would not support any more funding for the agency while it continues to "kill and harm" immigrant communities.
"We need to shut down this broken system once and for all," Krishnamoorthi wrote. "ICE is nothing but a tool of Trump's authoritarian agenda."
Other Illinois Democrats, including Mayor Daniel Biss and State Senator Kat Abughazaleh, have also pledged support for abolishing ICE.
Meanwhile, García has become the only Democrat in the 4th Congressional District's primary to take a more progressive stance on immigration, calling for an end to funding for ICE.
"We need to stop giving billions of dollars to this broken system," García said. "We've seen how it's failed our communities. It's time to change."
Despite concerns from some Democrats about the potential impact of the movement on the midterm elections, polls suggest that a majority of Americans support abolishing ICE.
A recent survey by The Economist/YouGov found 46% of American adults believe in supporting or somewhat supporting the abolition of ICE, while 77% of Democrats and 43% of Republicans endorse the idea.
Some lawmakers are taking aim at other parts of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), however. Representative Chuy García has introduced legislation that aims to limit funding for all agencies within DHS unless there is significant reform of immigration policies.
In a similar vein, representative Robin Kelly filed articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, citing accusations that she obstructed Congress, broke the public's trust and benefited personally from negotiations. Krishnamoorthi endorsed Kelly's resolution, saying "I'll be your first co-sponsor."
Kelly's move is considered a high-risk strategy since it requires Republican support in both chambers to be successful.
The push for reform comes as cities across the country have seen increased incidents of violence related to ICE actions and enforcement.
As the Democratic Party struggles to navigate the potential impact of its "Abolish ICE" movement on the midterm elections, several lawmakers from Illinois have joined the growing chorus of Democrats calling for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Representatives Delia Ramírez, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Juliana Stratton, Daniel Biss, Kat Abughazaleh, Laura Fine, and Patty García are among those pushing for an end to ICE, despite warnings from some Democrats that the movement could alienate moderate voters.
Ramírez tweeted her support for "Abolish ICE" in January after a group called Third Way warned Democrats against joining the movement, labeling it "politically lethal." The memo argued that using extreme rhetoric would waste an opportunity to pass significant immigration reform legislation, handing Republicans a chance to score points on security and immigration issues.
"I say '¡Bien! Abolish ICE and DHS'," Ramírez wrote. "It's time for us to stop giving billions of dollars to a broken system that is hurting our communities."
Stratton, the state's vice governor, said she supports abolishing ICE because the agency is "out of control" and beyond reform.
"We've seen this in Chicago, we've seen it in Minneapolis, and violence will continue as long as ICE exists," Stratton wrote in a statement. "It's time for a new approach."
Krishnamoorthi also joined the call to abolish ICE, saying he would not support any more funding for the agency while it continues to "kill and harm" immigrant communities.
"We need to shut down this broken system once and for all," Krishnamoorthi wrote. "ICE is nothing but a tool of Trump's authoritarian agenda."
Other Illinois Democrats, including Mayor Daniel Biss and State Senator Kat Abughazaleh, have also pledged support for abolishing ICE.
Meanwhile, García has become the only Democrat in the 4th Congressional District's primary to take a more progressive stance on immigration, calling for an end to funding for ICE.
"We need to stop giving billions of dollars to this broken system," García said. "We've seen how it's failed our communities. It's time to change."
Despite concerns from some Democrats about the potential impact of the movement on the midterm elections, polls suggest that a majority of Americans support abolishing ICE.
A recent survey by The Economist/YouGov found 46% of American adults believe in supporting or somewhat supporting the abolition of ICE, while 77% of Democrats and 43% of Republicans endorse the idea.
Some lawmakers are taking aim at other parts of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), however. Representative Chuy García has introduced legislation that aims to limit funding for all agencies within DHS unless there is significant reform of immigration policies.
In a similar vein, representative Robin Kelly filed articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, citing accusations that she obstructed Congress, broke the public's trust and benefited personally from negotiations. Krishnamoorthi endorsed Kelly's resolution, saying "I'll be your first co-sponsor."
Kelly's move is considered a high-risk strategy since it requires Republican support in both chambers to be successful.
The push for reform comes as cities across the country have seen increased incidents of violence related to ICE actions and enforcement.
. I mean, on one hand, it's clear that the current system is broken and needs a shake-up. Ramírez makes some solid points about billions of dollars being wasted on a failed system 
. But then you've got politicians saying ICE is "out of control" or "killing and harming" immigrant communities without providing concrete solutions 
.
. We need to have an honest conversation about what kind of reforms we want, not just use buzzwords like "abolition" 
. And let's be real, some of these Democrats are taking a pretty radical stance – it's gonna be interesting to see how this plays out in the midterms 
.
. It's time for us to have some real conversations about our immigration policies, not just use them as a wedge issue 
.
its like theyre not afraid of the backlash or something i guess if 46% of americans support abolishing ice then maybe its time for a change 
but idk how itll affect the midterms and elections im just gonna keep an eye on this developing story 
It's not that simple. We need to have a comprehensive plan in place before we start dismantling agencies like ICE.
It's not that easy. And what about the innocent people who get caught up in the crossfire of these debates? 
, I mean come on people we're still using a system that's been proven time and time again to be broken 
. We're throwing billions of dollars at it and what do we get? More problems 
, I love it! Delia Ramírez and Raja Krishnamoorthi for the win 
. It's time for some real change in this country and I'm so down to see what happens next 
The polls do show that a majority of Americans support abolishing ICE, which is kinda mind-blowing considering how polarized the country is on immigration. 
I can imagine how scary it must be for those living in communities affected by ICE actions 
. Seeing loved ones get separated, being stopped at airports or checkpoints, and worrying about deportation is just heartbreaking 
.
and I gotta say, some of them are really passionate about it! 
Like Rep Ramírez is all in, saying we should stop giving billions to a broken system that's hurting our communities. 
And Rep Stratton is like "ICE is outta control, shut it down already!" 
but at least they're trying to address the issues we know exist. 
That's some real stuff right there.
So maybe abolishing it could be a good way to show that we're not gonna stand for that kind of thing anymore? 
.
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I mean, billions of dollars wasted on a broken system? That's wild! 
Like Stratton said, the agency is "out of control" - we need to stop giving them power. And Krishnamoorthi is right too, it's all about Trump's agenda... like, who needs that kind of drama in our country? 
i think its awesome that these democratic lawmakers in illinois are taking a stand against ice and pushing for change. its about time we stop treating people like numbers and start seeing them as human beings with families, friends, and stories to tell 
i think its cool that some of these lawmakers are taking a risk by speaking out against the status quo and being honest with themselves and their constituents about what needs to be done 
which means theres a growing movement of people who care deeply about creating a better future for everyone 
My aunt used to work in a factory that got shut down by ICE and now she can't even get a job anymore because of some stupid visa thingy 
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. Some lawmakers are saying abolishing ICE would be a step towards creating a more humane immigration system, but what about the chaos that would ensue in the meantime? 
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. What's cool is that these lawmakers aren't just talking the talk, they're taking action 
. Of course, we gotta keep an eye on how this plays out in the elections and beyond 
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. And honestly, I think it's about time we stopped playing nice with an agency that's been shown to be out of control 
we need real change, not just lip service from politicians who don't have the guts to take on the tough issues. I'm so sick of these politicians playing both sides against each other when all we really need is a comprehensive overhaul of our immigration system... and that includes abolishing ICE once and for all! 