Border Dem poised to wield ICE purse strings rejects socialist ‘defund’ push
A longtime Democratic House member representing a southern border district said Immigration and Customs Enforcement is not going anywhere as "Abolish ICE" became a rallying cry for more than a dozen progressive Democrats elected or reelected in the midterms.
Key points
- Cuellar has repeatedly broken with his party on immigration enforcement, including voting with Republicans in January to approve a DHS funding bill that included billions for ICE, though he later opposed a $70 billion Republican-backed enforcement package over concerns about oversight.
- DEMOCRAT COMPARES ICE TO 'DOMESTIC TERRORISTS' AS 111 HOUSE DEMS DEMAND TEXAS DETENTION CENTER CLOSE Meanwhile, ICE’s partnerships with Texas authorities have expanded through 287(g) agreements that allow local officers to assist with immigration enforcement, jail screening and administrative warrants.
- The Abolish ICE movement became a flashpoint for the Trump administration amid sweeping immigration enforcement operations in major cities including Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Chicago and New Orleans.
Cuellar, who is currently the ranking member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, is poised to become chairman, giving him significant influence over how funding for ICE is allocated.
Additional details
- Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, told Fox News Digital that they make up just "one part of the spectrum" and that there are many "blue dogs" like himself who value strong border and immigration policies.
- "I don't believe in defunding ICE and I think the majority of the Democrats do not believe defunding ICE, but there are serious rail guards we need put on ICE," Cuellar said.
- Cuellar has criticized ICE for pursuing immigrants without criminal records, even though federal law allows the agency to arrest people for civil immigration violations.
- The agency has also faced fierce backlash over the fatal shootings of two American citizens by ICE agents in Minnesota just weeks apart in January 2026.
- "Anybody that thinks that what ICE is doing, going after nuns, going after pastors, going after dreamers, they think that's normal?
How this summary was made: extractive summary — built from the sources' own reporting. It is drawn only from the reporting of the sources listed below — read the originals for full detail. How we summarize →
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