AUSTIN, Texas — The Democratic National Committee approved a nonbinding resolution on Saturday, August 15, urging all Democratic members of Congress to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The full DNC membership passed the measure, known as Resolution 27, by unanimous voice vote. It advanced two days earlier from the Resolutions Committee by a 25-12 vote. A competing resolution calling for “concrete reforms” to ICE rather than its elimination also passed. DNC Chairman Ken Martin shared that neither vote officially sets the party’s formal platform, which will be determined at the 2028 national convention.
The abolish-ICE resolution, introduced by Louisiana DNC member Michele Johnson, called on Democratic lawmakers to craft legislation dissolving the agency, wind down the immigration detention system, restrict Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding unless certain enforcement practices end — including workplace raids, mass roundups, arrests at courthouses and ICE check-ins, and actions near schools and houses of worship — and terminate contracts with private detention providers. It also urges closing detention facilities, releasing most immigration detainees except in limited circumstances, and pursuing greater accountability for agency personnel.
Johnson said that Democrats need to take a clear position on ICE.
“We do not need an agency who treats all individuals of my skin color and darker like criminals just for existing,” Johnson said during committee debate according to Washington Times. “Please join me and 76% of Democrats that support abolishing ICE.”
ICE was created in 2003 as part of the DHS following the September 11 attacks, is the primary federal agency responsible for interior immigration enforcement. Its official mission is to protect the United States through criminal investigations and the enforcement of immigration laws to preserve national security and public safety.
The agency investigates transnational criminal networks involved in narcotics smuggling, human trafficking, gang activity, money laundering and customs fraud, while its Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) directorate targets and removes noncitizens who pose public safety threats, have criminal convictions or have violated immigration laws.
As of June 2026, ICE employed 29,065 people, according to Office of Personnel Management federal workforce data. Abolishing the agency would result in the layoff or reassignment of those employees.
Republican leaders and the Trump administration quickly condemned the DNC vote. Critics warn that eliminating ICE would severely impair the federal government’s ability to remove criminal noncitizens from communities, investigate cross-border crime, combat human trafficking and locate missing migrant children.
Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters called it “political suicide” for the Democratic Party.
“Democrats made it official,” Gruters said. “They care more about protecting violent illegal aliens than American families. While President Trump and Republicans are securing our border and standing with law enforcement, Democrats want to let dangerous illegal criminals run wild in our communities. This resolution is political suicide, and Democrats will pay for choosing open borders over public safety, border security, and backing the blue.”
White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said extreme radical Democrats want to abolish ICE and defund the police.
“Instead of trying to abolish ICE, Democrats should be thanking ICE law enforcement officers for putting their lives on the line to arrest and remove murderers, rapists, pedophiles, and gang members from American communities,” Bis said.
Border Czar Tom Homan, speaking on Fox News, slammed the resolution. He said approximately 70% of the illegal aliens detained by ICE have been convicted of additional crimes and that ICE has rescued more than 151,000 missing children who the prior administration lost track of when enforcement was limited.
“So you want to abolish an agency that found 151,000 children. You want to abolish an agency that seized enough fentanyl to kill every American three times over again. You want to abolish an agency that is attacking sex trafficking,” Homan said.
Since President Donald J Trump has returned to office in January 2025, ICE has conducted record arrests and removals. DHS stated that more than 670,000 illegal aliens have been removed in the first year of the administration, including individuals convicted of murder, sexual assault, gang membership and other serious offenses.
Trump administration officials argue that abolishing ICE would leave local law enforcement without a key federal partner for interior enforcement and could increase risks to public safety from individuals with serious criminal records remaining at large.
As recently as August 17, Governor Bob Ferguson posted to X his appreciation to local law enforcement for a significant downturn in crime in the most recent crime report that shows murder and property crime down as much as 20%.
“The latest report on crime in Washington state shows crime significantly down, dropping across all categories,” wrote Ferguson. “That includes declines of over 20% for murders and property crimes…. I look forward to continuing our work together with local governments and law enforcement to reduce crime.”
Washington State Republican Party Chairman and state Rep. Jim Walsh linked the DNC’s passage of the Abolish Ice resolution to state-level actions, criticizing Attorney General Nick Brown for joining a multi-state lawsuit challenging federal access to commercial driver’s license data.
“Illegal aliens driving commercial trucks have killed innocent Americans in several high-profile cases around the United States,” Walsh released in a statement. “Right here in western Washington, an illegal alien—driving drunk—killed a young Washington State Patrol trooper. Rather than fight these crimes and enforce the law, the DNC and Nick Brown are following their DSA masters and encouraging lawlessness. The blood of the people, the families, killed by illegal-alien drivers is on their hands.”
Author: Mario Lotmore
