Congress Moves to Abolish ICE — DHS Fires Back Hard

CAPITOL HILL ERUPTS: CONGRESS TAKES AIM AT ICE — DHS FIRES BACK HARD

Washington is in open warfare as a growing bloc of lawmakers pushes to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement, igniting one of the most explosive battles yet over U.S. immigration policy — and drawing an immediate, forceful counterattack from the Department of Homeland Security.

The fight intensified this week after members of Congress introduced legislation that would dismantle ICE and transfer its functions to other federal agencies, arguing the department has become irredeemable and structurally incompatible with civil rights and constitutional protections.

“This agency cannot be reformed,” one sponsor said on the House floor. “It must be ended.”

A Line in the Sand

Supporters of abolition say ICE has drifted far from its original mandate, pointing to years of controversy, allegations of abuse, and an expanding enforcement footprint that they argue undermines due process and community trust. The proposal would effectively erase ICE as a standalone agency, redistributing responsibilities across DHS while dramatically shrinking federal immigration enforcement power.

But DHS responded with fury.

In a blistering statement, the department accused lawmakers of endangering national security, claiming the push to abolish ICE is “reckless,” “politically motivated,” and detached from reality.

“Calls to eliminate ICE ignore the essential role our personnel play in protecting the homeland,” DHS said, warning that dismantling the agency would create enforcement gaps that criminals and traffickers could exploit.