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.
asserted
ICE → represent → midterms
While the elections brought a new class of Democratic Socialists of America members to Congress, Rep. 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.
asserted
who → bring → 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.
asserted
Cuellar → believe → ICE
Cuellar also warned Democrats against returning to the Biden administration’s border policies.
asserted
Cuellar → warn → policies
"We just can't open up the border and just say anybody that wants to claim asylum can come to the borders.
uncertain
that → open → borders
That policy under Biden administration — I hope that every Democrat running for national office doesn't do that anymore," Cuellar said.
asserted
Cuellar → hope → that
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.
asserted
funding → poise → ICE
The congressman's district includes Laredo, where Border Patrol has a major presence.
asserted
Patrol → include → presence
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.
asserted
he → break → oversight
Cuellar has criticized ICE for pursuing immigrants without criminal records, even though federal law allows the agency to arrest people for civil immigration violations.
asserted
agency → criticize → violations
He has also called for greater oversight of the agency.
asserted
He → call → agency
"Anybody that thinks that what ICE is doing, going after nuns, going after pastors, going after dreamers, they think that's normal?
asserted
that → think → dreamers
I don't think Cuellar said, attributing the blue wave in Texas to Trump's immigration enforcement tactics.
asserted
Cuellar → think → tactics
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.
asserted
movement → become → Minneapolis
The operations have resulted in more than 1.3 million arrests and 1.2 million illegal immigrants being deported or leaving the country, according to the White House.
uncertain
arrests → result → House
Democrats and immigrant rights activists have criticized ICE's tactics, which include targeting courthouses, churches and job sites, as well as conditions in detention centers.
asserted
which → criticize → centers
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.
asserted
agency → face → January
In the months that followed, Democratic governors in New York, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland and Minnesota signed laws restricting local and state cooperation with federal immigration officials.
asserted
governors → follow → officials
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.
asserted
officers → expand → enforcement
Texas law now requires most county sheriffs to seek these agreements.
asserted
law → require → agreements
Cuellar said local law enforcement should have a limited role:
asserted
enforcement → say → role
"I think the local sheriff should report somebody that’s there illegally.
asserted
that → think → somebody
I think that’s it.
asserted
that → think → ?
But anything beyond that, I think we need to have a discussion," Cuellar told Fox News Digital.
asserted
Cuellar → think → Digital
At a rally in January, she criticized Gov. Greg Abbott for directing state agencies to make Texas land and facilities available for federal immigration detention.
asserted
she → criticize → detention
During her time in the state House, Hinojosa voted against a 2017 bill requiring local law enforcement to cooperate with federal agencies.
asserted
Hinojosa → vote → agencies
But Hinojosa has never called for Texas to follow New York and other blue states' lead in ending all cooperation with ICE.
asserted
Texas → call → ICE
"She is from the border from Brownsville," Cuellar said.
asserted
Cuellar → say → Brownsville
"I haven't heard her say that she supports the defunding ICE.
asserted
she → hear → ICE
I don't think she has said that.
asserted
she → think → that
Does she probably believe in transparency and rail guards for ICE?
asserted
she → believe → ICE
Again, I don't want to speak for her, but I think she does."
asserted
she → want → her
Hinojosa has also sharply criticized Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, calling the operation a political "grandstand."
asserted
Hinojosa → criticize → operation
Operation Lone Star launched in March 2021 amid a sharp rise in border encounters that began in 2020 and accelerated after President Joe Biden took office.
asserted
Biden → launch → office
The operation deployed Texas DPS officers, National Guard troops and local law enforcement to combat illegal crossings, human smuggling and drug trafficking before expanding to include state arrests and prosecutions for illegal entry, construction of border barriers and migrant transportation.
asserted
operation → deploy → barriers
In a recent CBS interview, former Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz said the Biden administration sent mixed messages to migrants and accused some officials of "embracing the chaos and crisis" at the southern border.
asserted
administration → say → border
Cuellar agreed with Ortiz's assessment that the Biden administration didn't do its job securing the border.
"The Biden Administration had it wrong," Cuellar said.
asserted
Cuellar → agree → border
Cuellar also criticized Abbott's deployment of Operation Lone Star, pointing to a January 2024 standoff in Eagle Pass, where Texas authorities seized control of Shelby Park and restricted Border Patrol’s access.
asserted
authorities → criticize → access
"You still got to work with border patrol, regardless if it's a Democrat or Republican at the White House itself," Cuellar said.
asserted
Cuellar → got → House
"So I can understand why there was that criticism, but still the Governor should have done a better job working with us at the federal level.
asserted
Governor → understand → level
…and 6 more, not listed.
The Aporia
