Political Crossfire Forums

Abolishing ICE is a terrible idea and if adopted as a party plank is a surefire way to one grand old party rule

Subtle John.

I'm glad a challenger won based on the outreach and the policies that the constituents actually want. This is good.

ICE has only existed since 2003. It's not some core institution of our society that we can't exist without.

At this point, Dylan and Galt are simply expressing their reactionary thoughts, without any critical analysis. A few things to consider:

1. As noted, ICE is a relatively new agency, that was created after 9/11, and consolidated a number of separate immigration agencies into one. Ending ICE would not mean ending border patrol, although that is certainly how the GOP would portray it. To me, it makes sense to have an institution dedicated to manning the actual border, and a separate institution for rounding up illegals (if that is something that has to happen).

2. ICE is currently allowed to operate within 100 miles of any border. This puts a massive amount of the population under rules that could amount to flagrant violations of Constitutional rights. In practice, that is exactly what is happening - ICE is not following the rules, and so abolishing it might be necessary to break up the institutional disdain for the rule of law.

3. One Democrat, even 50 Democrats, do not make a platform.

4. The representative is expressing views held by many of her community, supporters and constituents. This is a good thing, not a bad thing.

I wrote something but apparently didn't press submit

While ICE itself is newer, it is the extension of earlier agencies. It's what was the investigative arm of INS and customs. Immigration through legal means is handled by BICS. So when they say "abolish ICE" they are stating they want to abolish the thing that investigates and deports illegal immigrants. And also has a big role in customs to stop drugs, shark fins, and child pornography