Illinois dems differ on meaning of "abolish ICE"
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Rebecca Zisser/Axios
From Ald. Andre Vasquez to Gov. JB Pritzker, local lawmakers are issuing clarion calls to "Abolish ICE" or "Abolish Trump's ICE."
Why it matters: The rallying cries have grown louder in the wake of the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by immigration agents last month, but few agree on what the phrase means.
The latest: Mayor Brandon Johnson, who defines "abolish ICE" as disbanding the agency and redirecting its funding to immigration reform, issued a novel executive order Saturday that directs Chicago police to document alleged crimes by ICE agents and report them to the State's Attorney's office.
- He further tells Axios that Border Patrol "should be sent back to our nation's borders. There is no reason for [CBP] to be diverted from their congressional directives to assist ICE in terrorizing our cities."
Here's how other Illinois politicians define "Abolish ICE":
Ald. Andre Vasquez: "There's only one definition for me: [ICE] shouldn't exist and CBP needs a complete overhaul," the chair of the City Council Immigrant and Refugee Rights committee tells Axios.
Gov. JB Pritzker: "Stop the funding, stop the occupations, stop the killings," Pritzker said on social media, and on MS Now, "If we don't abolish Trump's ICE and make sure that we have a trained force that is following the law, that this is going to erupt into something really terrible."
Former Lt. Gov. and U.S. Senate hopeful Juliana Stratton: "ICE must be abolished," Stratton told Axios. "It is out of control and beyond reform … these are the bare minimum demands Senate Democrats should not cave on:
- No new funds for ICE or CBP.
- No immunity for federal agents.
- Investigate and prosecute every federal agent who broke the law.
- Remove ICE and CBP from American cities. Border security should take place at the border."
U.S. Rep. and U.S. Senate hopeful Raja Krishnamoorthi: "Masks have to come off. ID has to go on, body cameras have to go on, no more warrantless arrests, third-party investigations must be mandatory for all use of force, and no more roving gangs of ICE or CBP agents throughout our cities," said Krishnamoorthi, who calls for abolishing "Trump's" ICE.
U.S. Rep. and U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez: The congresswoman's "Melt ICE" bill aims to stop the jailing of immigrants with pending deportation cases. It would:
- End existing immigration detention contracts within two years of enactment
- Block DHS from executing new detention contracts
- Require DHS to submit a plan to get immigrants off ankle monitors within six months
- Redirect ICE funding to community-based organizations.
What's next: Democrats in the U.S. Senate are pushing yet another set of demands, which may have the best shot at adoption in the near future.
- Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer says he's willing to let DHS funding lapse in coming weeks if talks to ban face masks, require the use of body cameras and tighten the use of warrants don't achieve results.