AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — During a meeting on Saturday, Democrats approved conflicting messages regarding the future of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with some members advocating for its abolishment while others called for reforms. This division reflects the party's response to President Donald Trump's immigration policies and highlights differing opinions ahead of the midterm elections.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) meeting resulted in a resolution calling for 'concrete reforms' of ICE, alongside a proposal to abolish the agency, which has been criticized for its role in several fatal encounters. The debate over ICE has intensified since 2018 and has resurfaced following recent incidents involving the agency.
While the vote is not binding and does not set the party's official platform, it indicates the varying perspectives within the party on immigration issues. DNC member Michele Johnson from Louisiana, who proposed the abolishment measure, emphasized the need for the party to take a clear stance.
In contrast, Yvonne Reeves-Chong expressed concerns that abolishing ICE would alienate certain voter groups and suggested that the party should focus on winning elections to implement effective policies. DNC Chairman Ken Martin noted that Democrats are united in their belief that the current practices of ICE and Customs and Border Protection are unacceptable and called for a better approach to immigration.
Recent polling indicates that immigration remains a significant issue for Trump, despite a decline in approval ratings for his handling of the topic, with only 39% of U.S. adults approving of his performance on immigration as of this month, down from 49% at the start of his second term.