Why I.C.E. must be abolished
Everywhere I go across the district, people tell me the same thing: the immigration system feels chaotic, unfair, and completely out of control. They see cities struggling to keep up, families stuck in limbo for years, and a federal government that reacts with soundbites instead of solutions. They also tell me they want order, safety, and a system that follows the law—but they don’t see how what we’re doing now gets us there.
Too often, immigration has been reduced to fear, politics, and enforcement-first responses that don’t actually fix the problem. This page explains how we got here — and what it really takes to build an immigration system that is humane, secure, lawful, and actually works.
When federal immigration enforcement kills people, accountability cannot be optional. Repeated Border Patrol and ICE-related shootings are not isolated incidents. They are the result of agencies operating with broad authority, weak oversight, and few real consequences. A civil immigration system should never function this way.
For too long, politicians have argued about immigration without explaining how the system actually works. I believe voters deserve honesty — and a plan that can stand up to scrutiny.
The federal immigration system — particularly Immigration and Customs Enforcement — has operated without the transparency, independent oversight, or accountability that a democratic society demands. Repeated incidents of excessive force, civil rights violations, and unclear lines of authority are not random failures. They are the predictable result of an agency structured without effective checks and balances.
When enforcement agencies repeatedly harm people, evade accountability, and erode public trust, the system itself must be reimagined. I support abolishing ICE as it currently exists and replacing it with an immigration enforcement framework built on lawful, transparent, and humane principles.
This new system must:
Be subject to independent oversight and regular public reporting
Clearly separate civil immigration enforcement from criminal law powers
Uphold due process, human rights, and international standards
Ensure consequences when abuses occur, at every level of command
Abolishing ICE is not about eliminating enforcement — it’s about rebuilding it so it works as intended: lawfully, effectively, and with accountability.
life after ice: a lawful, accountable immigration system
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Abolishing ICE does not mean eliminating immigration enforcement or “open borders.”
It means ending a failed agency with a record of abuse and replacing it with a lawful, transparent immigration enforcement system that protects due process, public safety, and human rights.
Border security continues. Courts continue. Criminal investigations continue.
What ends is an agency built around detention-first enforcement, broad discretion, and weak oversight.
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ICE was created as a temporary enforcement stopgap after 9/11. It was never designed to be the backbone of immigration policy.
Over time, ICE accumulated overlapping authority, unclear mission boundaries, and incentives that reward detention and raids instead of lawful resolution.
The result has been repeated civil-rights violations, inconsistent enforcement, community distrust, and billions spent without improving border security or legal processing.
These are not isolated failures. They are structured.
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ICE has undergone internal reforms, leadership changes, and policy reviews, and internal revisions for years — without resolving its core failures.
Reform cannot succeed when:
The agency’s mission is internally conflicted
Enforcement incentives reward volume over outcomes
Oversight is reactive instead of built-in
Public trust has collapsed beyond repair
When an institution consistently harms people, resists accountability, and fails its purpose, reform preserves the problem.
Structural replacement is the responsible option.
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Abolishing ICE does not mean ending immigration enforcement. It means ending a single, unaccountable agency and putting its functions where they belong — with clear responsibility, lawful limits, and real oversight.
Border security, courts, and criminal investigations already exist. This plan separates those roles, strengthens them, and removes detention-first enforcement that doesn’t work.
Under this plan:
Border security remains with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Immigration courts and removal decisions remain with the Department of Justice
Asylum and legal processing remain with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Criminal investigations remain with existing DOJ-led law-enforcement task forces
Civil immigration enforcement is narrowed to a small, court-compliance office focused solely on executing lawful court orders — with strict oversight and no raid authority.
Enforcement continues. Chaos ends..
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Public safety improves when enforcement is focused, precise, and lawful.
Serious crimes such as trafficking, smuggling, and organized crime are already investigated by dedicated federal law-enforcement agencies. That work continues — without being diluted by mass immigration sweeps.
Separating criminal enforcement from civil immigration enforcement allows law enforcement to focus on real threats, not paperwork status.
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Any civil immigration enforcement must be transparent, limited, and accountable.
This system includes:
Independent oversight
Public reporting requirements
Clear statutory authority
Real consequences for abuse
Enforcement should follow the law — not operate above it.
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Taxpayer dollars should fund systems that work.
Ending ICE allows funding to be redirected toward:
Immigration courts and judges
Faster legal processing
Modern port-of-entry screening
Support for cities and states managing arrivals
Accountability saves money. Dysfunction wastes it.
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America deserves an immigration system that is lawful, humane, and effective.
Abolishing ICE is not about removing enforcement.
It is about rebuilding a system that actually works — with clear rules, real accountability, and public trust.