The Democratic National Committee gathered in Austin, Texas, and voted to approve two different policy stances regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. One proposal calls for comprehensive reforms to the agency, while another advocates for its complete abolition. The vote, while not binding on the party platform ahead of the midterms, highlights divisions within Democratic ranks on a contentious issue.
Progressive Democrats have targeted ICE for elimination since 2018 during the first Trump administration. The push has intensified following two fatal shootings carried out by ICE agents in July. Michele Johnson, a DNC member from Louisiana who championed the abolition measure, argued the party needs to take clearer stances rather than relying on focus-group-tested language. She referenced the dissolution of ICE’s predecessor agency, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, as a historical example of such institutional change.
Opponents of the abolition measure expressed concern about political viability. Yvonne Reeves-Chong stated that calling for ICE’s elimination would resonate only with part of the Democratic base while alienating other voter groups. She emphasized the importance of focusing on winning elections to implement meaningful policy changes.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin noted that while party members differ on whether to reform or abolish the agency, they share strong opposition to current immigration enforcement practices. He stressed that the administration’s approach, involving both ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations, requires fundamental change. Recent polling data showed that only 39% of Americans approve of Trump’s immigration performance, down from 49% at the start of his second term, though immigration remained a stronger issue for him than either the economy or Iran.
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