Polls show that Americans overwhelmingly support abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with 46% in favor, compared to just 43% against. This shift in public opinion is a stark contrast to the tepid response from Democratic establishment figures who have consistently distanced themselves from the idea.
The killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent has galvanized support for abolishing the agency, which has been accused of being a racist and lawless force. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's initial statement urging ICE to "get out" was later watered down, but it reflects the growing unease among Democrats about their handling of ICE.
Despite their ambivalence, establishment Democrats continue to push for incremental reforms, rather than bold action against ICE. Top Democrats have been working behind the scenes to secure funding for the agency with strings attached, but this approach is unlikely to satisfy the public's desire for meaningful change.
The shift in public opinion is a significant development, as it suggests that "Abolish ICE" could become the moderate position. In July of last year, support for abolishing ICE was just 27%, compared to 46% today.
Democrats would be wise to heed this shift and take bold action against ICE. By doing so, they can demonstrate their commitment to fighting authoritarianism and defending democratic values. The alternative - continuing to hedge and compromise - is likely to alienate the very voters who are driving this change in public opinion.
The killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent has galvanized support for abolishing the agency, which has been accused of being a racist and lawless force. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's initial statement urging ICE to "get out" was later watered down, but it reflects the growing unease among Democrats about their handling of ICE.
Despite their ambivalence, establishment Democrats continue to push for incremental reforms, rather than bold action against ICE. Top Democrats have been working behind the scenes to secure funding for the agency with strings attached, but this approach is unlikely to satisfy the public's desire for meaningful change.
The shift in public opinion is a significant development, as it suggests that "Abolish ICE" could become the moderate position. In July of last year, support for abolishing ICE was just 27%, compared to 46% today.
Democrats would be wise to heed this shift and take bold action against ICE. By doing so, they can demonstrate their commitment to fighting authoritarianism and defending democratic values. The alternative - continuing to hedge and compromise - is likely to alienate the very voters who are driving this change in public opinion.
I wonder why it took a tragic event like Renee Good's killing for people to wake up and realize how harsh ICE can be? 
It's crazy that 46% of Americans support abolishing the agency now, but just 27% did last year! That's like, a whole 19 percentage points in just one year... what changed their minds? 
Where's the bold action? Why can't they just be like "ICE is bad, and we need to get rid of it"? 
and it's crazy that it still exists, you know? 46% of Americans get it, though! 
It's like they're finally waking up to the fact that ICE is just a bunch of bull 
. Democrats need to step up their game and actually do something about it instead of just playing politics 
. It's time for some real change and accountability 
!
...like, what's next? Abolishing the entire police department? No, seriously though, it's wild how quickly people can turn on institutions they used to trust. I'm all for reforming ICE and making it more humane, but just getting rid of it completely might not be the best solution...check out this article from The New York Times: 
They need to take bold action and not just water down their stance with incremental reforms. It's like they're trying to fix the leaky bucket by just patching up some of the holes instead of replacing the whole thing! 
. Meanwhile, they're still trying to pass incremental reforms that won't even scratch the surface of fixing the problem 
.
. I mean, we're talking about an agency that's been accused of being basically racist and lawless – how can anyone support that? The fact that some Democrats are still playing it safe with incremental reforms is just infuriating 
. We need bold action now, not more half-measures. And let's be real, if 46% of Americans want ICE gone, we should listen to them 
. It's time for the party to take a stand and show some real leadership on this issue 
. It's time for some real leadership, not just empty promises 
. The status quo isn't cutting it anymore – we need change, and we need it now! 
I mean its only a matter of time before the whole country sees how messed up they really are. Those 46% who support abolishment must be super smart, like they can see right through the BS. It's crazy how slow those Dem establishment figures were to catch on. Meanwhile, the public is already turning against them for being too scared to take a stand. The problem is, will they actually do something about it? I got my doubts...
... I mean, how can you support it when you see people like Renee Good getting killed by one of these agents? It's just not right 
. I mean, if 46% of Americans are against ICE, maybe it's time for them to listen and take some real action 
. It's telling that moderate Democrats have been slow to adapt, instead opting for incremental reforms that fail to address the systemic issues plaguing the agency. The contrast between this approach and the growing momentum behind abolishing ICE couldn't be more stark 
. If Democrats want to capitalize on this trend, they need to take a bold stance against authoritarianism and demonstrate a commitment to defending democratic values 
, but at least there's some awareness now about how ICE is being perceived. Hopefully, Dems can learn from this shift in public opinion and make some real changes 
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for far too long and it's only a matter of time before someone else gets hurt. The fact that 46% of Americans want them abolished is a clear sign that people are getting fed up with their brutal tactics. The Democrats need to stop playing it safe and take a stand against ICE once and for all! If they don't, they'll just be seen as out of touch with the public's desire for change. It's time for some real leadership and not more watered down statements