House Republican leaders have announced that they will bring a bill introduced by radical Democrats that would abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to the floor for a vote.
The Establishing a Humane Immigration Enforcement System Act was introduced Thursday by Reps. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.). It is supported by major Democrats like Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, as well as the Dems’ new media star, candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Pop some popcorn, sit back, and watch the show. It will be entertaining to watch red state Democrats who are already in trouble trying to wriggle out of this one.
They argue that ICE, which was created in 2003 as part of a new Homeland Security Department, has become “militarized” in its approach to deportations.
“President Trump’s blanket directive to round up and target all undocumented immigrants underscores the unchecked power which ICE has used to terrorize our communities,” Pocan said in a statement. “From conducting raids at garden centers and meatpacking plants to targeting families outside churches and schools, the president is using ICE as a mass-deportation force to rip apart the moral fabric of our nation.”
Republicans have blasted the effort, arguing dissolving the agency would lead to an influx of human and drug trafficking and gang violence and increase the country’s risk of being subjected to an act of terrorism.
And some Democrats have signaled they do not support the effort.
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has stopped short of calling for ICE’s abolishment, for example.
“No American likes the separation of children and that’s an awful thing and that’s got to be stopped, but ICE does do some things that are very important,” he said at a press conference in Buffalo earlier this month.
Schumer isn’t running for anything, but he knows full well the potential disaster awaiting Democrats who are forced to cast a vote for this bill and is one nervous Nellie. For those 12 Democrats in the House running in districts won by Donald Trump in 2016, they will feel like they’re walking the plank. Thanks to Democratic-media hysteria, immigration has rocketed toward the top of major issues American voters believe are facing the country. Those red districts side with Trump on the issue, and voting to throw the borders wide open by abolishing the agency charged with protecting them would not be viewed favorably by voters in those districts.
A recent Politico poll showed only 25 percent of voters favored abolishing ICE while a clear majority favored keeping it. It’s a losing issue for Democrats across the board, but, apparently, they just can’t help themselves.
This vote will certainly help expose the truly radical nature of the Democratic party as many House members, fearing the anger of their rabid base, will probably vote for the measure anyway. It could be one more nail in the coffin of the “blue wave” scenario in November if Republicans go ahead with their plan to force a vote on the bill.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member