Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is firing back at a progressive House Democrat pushing legislation to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement and dismantle most of DHS.
Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., a member of the progressive “Squad,” introduced the Reimagining Safety Act — which would eliminate ICE, abolish Customs and Border Protection, and create a new “Department of Community Safety” in place of the current homeland security structure. The legislation represents one of the most ambitious efforts yet by progressive lawmakers to fundamentally restructure federal immigration enforcement, going far beyond previous proposals that focused on reforming specific agencies or policies.
The proposal comes at a time when immigration enforcement has become one of the most contentious flashpoints in American politics, with Democrats and Republicans deeply divided over the role and scope of federal agencies tasked with border security and interior enforcement. The debate reflects broader disagreements about immigration policy, law enforcement accountability, and the proper balance between security concerns and humanitarian considerations.
Mullin didn’t hold back.
“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.”
The sharp exchange highlights the increasingly personal nature of the immigration debate in Washington, with both sides framing the issue in stark terms that leave little room for compromise. Mullin’s forceful response signals that the administration views efforts to dismantle immigration enforcement agencies as a political non-starter and a threat to national security.
His DHS spokesperson went further, telling Fox News Digital that Ramirez “should be thanking our law enforcement for removing these dangerous criminals from her district—NOT vilifying law enforcement.” The comment underscores the administration’s strategy of emphasizing public safety and criminal enforcement as central justifications for maintaining robust immigration enforcement capabilities.
The spokesperson pointed to a more than 1,300% increase in assaults against ICE officers as agents face mounting hostility from sanctuary politicians. The statistic has become a key talking point for administration officials defending immigration enforcement operations and pushing back against calls for agency reform or abolition.
“While sanctuary politicians smear ICE, law enforcement is arresting criminals and saving countless American lives,” the spokesperson said.
DHS provided Fox News Digital with a list of illegal immigrants arrested in Ramirez’s home state of Illinois. The list included Bulgarian national Rumen Georgriev, convicted of rape with a weapon, Abdukadir Haji of Somalia, convicted of sex assault and rape, and Cuban national Samuel Reyes-Silva, convicted of robbery and homicide. By highlighting criminal cases from Ramirez’s own state, the administration appears to be making a direct argument that immigration enforcement protects her constituents, countering her narrative that the current system needs to be dismantled.
Ramirez’s legislation would preserve certain agencies — the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Coast Guard, and customs functions. This selective approach suggests that supporters of the bill are not opposed to all homeland security functions, but specifically target immigration enforcement agencies they view as fundamentally flawed or beyond reform.
But the bill would abolish ICE and “begin the process of establishing a separate civil immigration system,” according to a release. It would also abolish Customs and Border Protection, the agency charged with securing the southern border. The proposal envisions a wholesale reimagining of how the federal government approaches immigration enforcement, moving away from what critics characterize as a law enforcement-heavy model.
Democrat calls to abolish ICE have swelled in recent months amid criticism of President Donald Trump’s handling of immigration. The push reignited most recently when agents shot a Venezuelan national in Austin, Texas. Backlash has also targeted federal immigration officials’ involvement in incidents resulting in the deaths of two U.S. citizens earlier this year. These high-profile incidents have provided momentum for progressive activists and lawmakers who argue that the current immigration enforcement system is irredeemably broken and requires complete restructuring rather than incremental reform.
Ramirez fired back at the Trump administration’s criticism in a statement to Fox News Digital, making clear she has no intention of backing down from her proposal despite the sharp pushback from DHS leadership.
“Every day, Americans wake up with a new reason to dismantle DHS, reimagine safety, and build something that honors our shared humanity. The people have the power to reshape the government: instead of the weapon DHS has proven to be, we need a department built on the best parts of who we are and can be.”
She accused Mullin and DHS of spreading “cheap lies and fearmongering in a desperate attempt to save face because dismantling DHS and building something new is part of how we hold them accountable, stop corruption, and end their lawlessness.” Her response reflects the deep mistrust many progressives have developed toward immigration enforcement agencies, viewing them not as necessary security organizations but as institutions that require wholesale replacement.
Mullin’s DHS has emphasized targeting high-risk individuals following 16 straight months of zero releases under current enforcement policies. This track record is central to the administration’s argument that its approach to immigration enforcement is both effective and focused on legitimate public safety threats rather than indiscriminate enforcement actions.
