'Squad' Democrat formally introduces bill to abolish ICE, Border Patrol and dismantle DHS
Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., formally introduced sweeping legislation to dismantle the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and eliminate Customs and Border Protection (CBP), advancing a radical proposal that would fundamentally overhaul federal immigration enforcement.
The progressive "Squad" member's Reimagining Safety Act would replace DHS with a new Department of Community Safety, while preserving several existing federal agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The legislation would eliminate CBP, including Border Patrol, toppling the federal agency responsible for securing America's borders and screening travelers and goods entering the country.
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While certain customs and immigration functions would be transferred to other federal departments under Ramirez's legislation, the proposal would eliminate CBP's existing enforcement structure.
The bill's original cosponsors include fellow "Squad" member Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., along with Reps. Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., and Jim McGovern, D-Mass., according to Ramirez's office.
The legislation would also prohibit federal funding for border walls beginning in fiscal year 2027 and require the closure of the military detention center at Guantánamo Bay within 60 days of enactment.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin previously blasted the proposal in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital last month.
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"Radical leftists are calling to defund the police and abolish DHS. It’s NEVER going to happen. Our 270,000 DHS patriots are keeping Americans SAFE— unlike this open-borders politician who refuses to prioritize Americans over illegal aliens," Mullin said.
A DHS spokesperson also criticized Ramirez, saying she "should be thanking our law enforcement for removing these dangerous criminals from her district — NOT vilifying law enforcement."
The White House also weighed in, telling Fox News Digital that "the contrast has never been clearer" between President Trump's border policies and that of the radical left.
"Biden and open-border Democrats allowed millions of illegal aliens—including murderers, pedophiles, gang members, terrorists, and other violent criminals—to invade our country," White House Spokeswoman Lauren Bis told Fox News Digital in a statement.
"President Trump delivered the most secure border in American history, 16 straight months of zero releases of illegal aliens at the border, and stopped drugs from pouring into our communities. Radical Democrats want to go back to open borders and abolish ICE and Border Patrol. The contrast has never been clearer."
Ramirez previously defended her proposal in a statement to Fox News Digital, arguing the current department should be dismantled and replaced with an agency focused on community safety.
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"Every day, Americans wake up with a new reason to dismantle DHS, reimagine safety and build something that honors our shared humanity," Ramirez said.
Under the legislation, the TSA and Coast Guard would be transferred to the Department of Transportation, while FEMA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency would move to the proposed "Department of Community Safety."
Customs functions would hypothetically move to the Treasury Department, while certain immigration functions would transfer to the Justice Department.
The legislation would need to pass Congress and be signed into law before taking effect. None of its proposed changes to immigration enforcement are currently in force.
Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this reporting.