# Democratic Party Official Position is to Abolish ICE **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 15, 2026, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355 "2026-08-15T19:46:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355/61 "2026-08-16T16:30:54Z")
Before abolishing ICE, just make the cowards take their masks off. See how many of the goons just quit. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355/62 "2026-08-16T18:27:35Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > On what evidence do you base this opinion? He made the claim, he needs to back it up. > [@wolfpup](#): > > Logically, the functions of ICE could well be folded into CBP, but that’s an administrative detail. But saying “abolish it” sends the message that its functions are not needed, which is going to cost the Dems a lot of swing votes. Good point. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Abolish ICE is a winning political issue now. About half. Today, after some shootings. How about 2 years from now? > [@wolfpup](#): > > “Mainstream” in what political demographic? Wouldn’t “reform ICE to end illegal corruption and thuggery” poll better than “abolish ICE”? “Abolish ICE” parallels the “abolish the police” calls from some far-left extremists, and both are losing propositions for Democrats. Right. > [@enipla](#): > > Fourth - > Any ‘ICE’ officer that has been convicted of a felony needs to be fired. That is already the law. There are no convicted felons in ICE or any similar US agency. > [@enipla](#): > > . I mean really, can I walk around disguised on the streets with an AR? I suppose that’s actually legal, but come on. In a few states. > [@enipla](#): > > But what it will do is put 22,000 armed angry bigots and racists on the streets with no income. I suspect that some are bigots, and again, subverting the Civil Service for political reasons is a trump move. The excess agents can be transferred top other agencies, such as Federal Corrections, which has a large turnover- because the job is pretty nasty. > [@CaveMike](#): > > The core issue is that ICE ERO is now 19k employees and the mission has been expanded to traffic stops, raids, etc. > > It needs to revert to it’s former size and scope. Right. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355/63 "2026-08-16T18:30:47Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > About half. Today, after some shootings. How about 2 years from now? We’ll see, but why would it improve? Do you seriously suggest that the Trump administration will improve ICE’s behavior? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355/64 "2026-08-16T18:33:26Z")
In the 2028 Democratic primary, voters will be howling for the (rhetorical) blood of MAGA. No chance in hell that some milquetoast, cautious position like “let’s just make ICE better”, for an agency full of thugs with an administration mandate to terrorize and brutalize people of color, is going to get through the primary. Candidates will be scrambling to be the candidates that are seen as toughest on ICE and toughest on MAGA in general, because that’s what Democratic voters will demand. In my opinion, anyway. We’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355/65 "2026-08-16T18:38:32Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > We’ll see, but why would it improve? Do you seriously suggest that the Trump administration will improve ICE’s behavior? Hardly, unless the Dems win Congress and cuts back the budget for ICE back to Biden levels. But do you thing the current administration is going to Abolish ICE? No, that would be up to the next President- two years for now - or so. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > In the 2028 Democratic primary, voters will be howling for the (rhetorical) blood of MAGA. Maybe. But even so, they wont “abolish ICE”- they will _re-organize and rename_ and _say_ that they abolished it. They will not subvert the Civil Service. The budget will likely be cut before then, and the new Dem President will fire all the MAGA appointees. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355/66 "2026-08-16T18:39:40Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > If Dems’ platform is confined to “Abolish ICE!”, it’s an open invitation to Republicans to more fervently and gleefully exploit the specter of unrestrained waves of people streaming across the border, Which will be different from what they’ve been saying for the last 20 years… how, exactly? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355/67 "2026-08-16T18:43:11Z")
ICE is a failed agency. Replace it with a working agency that follows the rule of law and serves communities rather than terrorizing them. That is what I think the message should be. Start with a statement of the problem, and follow up with a positive solution. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355/68 "2026-08-16T18:46:56Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@wolfpup](#): > > > > Logically, the functions of ICE could well be folded into CBP, but that’s an administrative detail. But saying “abolish it” sends the message that its functions are not needed, which is going to cost the Dems a lot of swing votes. > > Good point. I disagree. The issue isn’t where there are located in the Federal government. It is the expansion of their scope and the unrestrained hiring with a “butts in seats” mentality. Prior to the expansion, they didn’t do much active enforcement via traffic stops and raids. The issue isn’t where ICE EOR _is_, it is what they _do_. Keep in mind that previously the enforcement sub-org, EOR, was only 1/3rd of ICE. The larger sub-org was Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) focused on trafficking, customs, and other crimes. HSI doesn’t belong in CPB at all. What needs to happen is eliminate the paramilitary force operating inside US borders that is the current incarnation of ICE EOR. The first two steps outght to be to fire the 12k new personnel and cut the budget. FWIW: Both CPB and ICE are already part of NHS just like they used to both be part of INS. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355/69 "2026-08-16T18:55:30Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > It is the expansion of their scope and the unrestrained hiring with a “butts in seats” mentality. Prior to the expansion, they didn’t do much active enforcement via traffic stops and raids. The issue isn’t where ICE EOR _is_, it is what they _do_. > > Keep in mind that previously the enforcement sub-org, EOR, was only 1/3rd of ICE. The larger sub-org was Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) focused on trafficking, customs, and other crimes. HSI doesn’t belong in CPB at all. > > What needs to happen is eliminate the paramilitary force operating inside US borders that is the current incarnation of ICE EOR. The first two steps outght to be to fire the 12k new personnel and cut the budget. I already suggested- twice- to cut the ICE budget back to Biden era levels, and the Dems can do that easily if they take congress this year. If a Civil Service employee has been in a whole year, you can not fire them for political reasons. But since ICE will have a much smaller budget, the new agents will have to be transferred out or they can be laid off. In effect, they will no longer be ICE agents. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355/70 "2026-08-16T18:57:55Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@DesertDog](#): > > > > On what evidence do you base this opinion? > > He made the claim, he needs to back it up. Quite true, and I think it’s too far to say with any certainty what particular breed of malcontents ICE has been hiring. But they’ve [certainly been hiring](https://apnews.com/article/main-shooting-ice-hiring-immigration-68d4a9d7d178311549f01f8fd5144511) in a [haphazard manner](https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2026-04-17/ice-went-on-hiring-spree-sterling-credentials-were-not-required-ap-investigation-finds) that has [alarmed experts](https://www.npr.org/2026/07/23/nx-s1-5903173/police-experts-question-ice-officer-vetting). So I also don’t think it’s fair to say that it’s “not true” that ICE has been hiring violent police department rejects. The fact is, ICE agents used to wear polos and deliver paperwork to people who overstayed visas, and now the mission very publicly involves violence. That’s going to either attract violent people, weed out reasonable people, or both. Best we can say is there’s not much evidence about what ICE agents look like now because the most transparent administration in history is weirdly opaque about _everything_. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355/71 "2026-08-16T19:02:04Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I already suggested- twice- to cut the ICE budget back to Biden era levels, and the Dems can do that easily if they take congress this year. I objected to the idea to move ICE into CPB. I fear that these suggestions would get watered down in implementation and we would end up with the same function, same issues in a different part of DHS. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355/72 "2026-08-16T19:25:50Z")
“See, the Democrats are doubling down on their embrace of illegal aliens - it’s right in their party platform!!!” Maybe it’s not a good idea to give them more ammo while throwing raw meat to the “progressive” wing? ---
**Author:** ![JDYanYan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jdyanyan/32/21663_2.png) [@JDYanYan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDYanYan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355/73 "2026-08-16T19:39:24Z")
I don’t think hating ice is just a progressive wing thing anymore. In 2026 I think the closest equivalent is the war in Iraq in 2008. The ICE murders and concentration camps have been a national embarrassment. ICE approval is almost a mirror image of Trump approval. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355/74 "2026-08-16T19:44:31Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Or, and here’s a thought, they go to no governmental job at all. Because the kind of people who are currently working for ICE will be toxic to any job they hold. Send them to the fields to pick the crops (in place of all those they’ve deported). They can’t do too much violence there. Though I suppose they could spit on the lettuce. > [@needscoffee](#): > > There are plenty of jobs that now need filling, like landscapers, day laborers, dishwashers, chicken slaughterhouse workers, home healthcare - you know, all those jobs whose workers got deported. Yes, this. > [@CaveMike](#): > > The core issue is that ICE ERO is now 19k employees and the mission has been expanded to traffic stops, raids, etc. > It needs to revert to it’s former size and scope. This is a good message for Dems. “Put it back the way it was before, when it worked well” short-circuits the “Dems want to abolish all law enforcement” lies so beloved by the Republicans. “ICE is broken. Replace it” is smarter than “Abolish it.” And we _ **do** _ need to be smart. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355/75 "2026-08-16T19:46:59Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Maybe it’s not a good idea to give them more ammo These are the people calling James Talarico a vegan soyboy gay transwoman because he ate a potato-egg-and-cheese breakfast taco and making AI-generated videos of him torturing children. We need to stop moderating our positions because of people who are never going to talk about us in good faith anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355/76 "2026-08-16T19:47:50Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > “See, the Democrats are doubling down on their embrace of illegal aliens - it’s right in their party platform!!!” > > Maybe it’s not a good idea to give them more ammo while throwing raw meat to the “progressive” wing? According to [the previous cite](https://yougov.com/en-us/articles/55212-majority-americans-little-or-no-confidence-ice-immigration-customs-enforcement-july-17-20-2026-economist-yougov-poll), 78% of Democrats support abolishing ICE. That’s a helluva wing. That said, I really think the verb we use needs to be “replace.” Very very few people are calling for open borders, and necessarily we’ll have a different border agency in place if ICE is abolished, so let’s put that right in the verb. I don’t think the left should soften positions in fear of Republicans who are going to lie about us no matter what, but I do think we should be intentional in the language we use. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355/77 "2026-08-16T19:49:01Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > because of people who are never going to talk about us in good faith anyway. I don’t think anyone is arguing that THOSE people can be reached with the truth. It’s the _much larger_ group of independents who may be reachable, and the closer we can come to presenting policy positions that sound reasonable, the better. ---
**Author:** ![keeganst94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a6a055/32.png) [@keeganst94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keeganst94)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355/78 "2026-08-16T19:50:04Z")
They’re going to say that no matter what. They fundamentally do not care if what they are saying is true or not. So why bother trying to cater to them? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355/79 "2026-08-16T19:50:16Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I suspect that some are bigots, and again, subverting the Civil Service for political reasons is a trump move. The excess agents can be transferred top other agencies, such as Federal Corrections, which has a large turnover- because the job is pretty nasty. In one sentence, you say that we shouldn’t subvert the Civil Service for political reasons. In the very next sentence, you say that we should subvert the Federal Department of Corrections. Get it straight; what do you want? > [@Sherrerd](#): > > It’s the _much larger_ group of independents who may be reachable, and the closer we can come to presenting policy positions that sound reasonable, the better. So, independent, reasonable positions like abolishing ICE, then? Because that’s what centrists want. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355/80 "2026-08-16T19:50:53Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > That said, I really think the verb we use needs to be “replace.” Very very few people are calling for open borders, and necessarily we’ll have a different border agency in place if ICE is abolished, so let’s put that right in the verb. I don’t think the left should soften positions in fear of Republicans who are going to lie about us no matter what, but I do think we should be intentional in the language we use. I wonder if politicians in postwar Germany spent this much time worrying about reforming and replacing the Gestapo. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-party-official-position-is-to-abolish-ice/1032355.md?page=5)