Democrats disagree over abolishing or reforming ICE at DNC meeting
DNC Members Split on ICE Future During Summer Gathering
Bharatmorningnews.com – AUSTIN, Texas — At a summer meeting on Saturday, Democratic National Committee members cast a non-binding vote that exposed deep divisions within the party regarding the future of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. While there is broad opposition to President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration policies, Democrats remain divided between those who want to dismantle the agency entirely and those who prefer to reform it.
The committee approved two distinct policy statements: one advocating for substantial changes to ICE, and another calling for the complete elimination of the organization. The agency has become a focal point for progressive activists since 2018, and calls for its abolition have grown louder following two deadly shootings by ICE officers in July.
Internal Party Debate
Michele Johnson, a Louisiana representative on the DNC, introduced the abolition proposal and argued that Democrats need to demonstrate more conviction. She referenced the historical precedent of the Immigration and Naturalization Service being dissolved as evidence that such a move is feasible.
"I think one of the reasons why people are not trusting the party is because we sound so academic," Johnson stated. "We sound focus group tested, we sound poll tested because we're worried about saying the wrong thing or doing the wrong thing and not just like, just stand on business, like take a position."
Not all committee members shared this enthusiasm for abolition. Yvonne Reeves-Chong cast a vote against the measure, expressing concern that eliminating ICE would energize one segment of the Democratic base while simultaneously alienating another crucial group of voters.
"I would strongly suggest we get to the business of winning races so we can make the policies that make a difference," Reeves-Chong explained.
A United Front on Immigration
Despite the internal disagreement on methodology, DNC Chairman Ken Martin emphasized that Democrats are united in their criticism of current immigration enforcement. Martin, representing Minnesota, noted that his state has experienced tragic losses during the ongoing crackdown, with Renee Good and Alex Pretti both losing their lives earlier this year.
"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 — and CBP and the federal government — should stop," Martin said. "There has to be a better way."
The Saturday vote does not establish the official party platform, which will be finalized at the 2028 convention. Individual candidates and legislators will continue to define their own stances on the issue as they prepare for the upcoming midterm elections.
Immigration Tops Trump's Challenges
According to a recent poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, immigration has emerged as a more significant vulnerability for Trump than either economic performance or foreign policy regarding Iran. This assessment comes even after three individuals were killed in ICE-related incidents within a single week during July.
The survey revealed that only 39 percent of American adults express approval of Trump's handling of immigration matters, marking a decline from the 49 percent approval rating recorded at the start of his second term in office.
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