Henry Cuellar Rejects Progressive Democrats' Calls to Abolish ICE

Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX), who is set to chair the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee next Congress, rejected progressive calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Rep. Cuellar, who will also serve as the dean of the Texas Democratic Delegation, won re-election in a redrawn district as a moderate Democrat. He said during a Wednesday news conference with fellow Texas Democrats that he does not plan to abolish ICE, but does plan to impose stricter guardrails on the agency through its funding legislation.

“As incoming chairman, I’m not going to abolish ICE,” Rep. Cuellar said. “I’m going to put serious railguards on ICE.”

These “railguards” Rep. Cuellar mentioned would likely come within the spending bill passed by the next Congress. The language of the bill could specify what ICE can and cannot do with its funding. Rep. Cuellar said he would add language to the bill directing ICE to use its resources against criminals.

This comes as leading House Democrats have said they plan to investigate how President Donald Trump has conducted immigration enforcement efforts via ICE.

This issue is also close to home for Rep. Cuellar. In July, Houston resident Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was fatally shot by an ICE agent during an immigration enforcement operation in Houston’s East End neighborhood. After the election, residents placed their “I Voted” stickers on his makeshift memorial

Other returning and incoming progressive Democrats have said they want to abolish the agency altogether. Many ran on this message in their campaigns that won them a seat in the House.

Rep. Cuellar said he does not plan to do so.

“The Democratic Party has a large ideological spectrum,” Rep. Cuellar said. “I understand what they said.”