Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) used his platform at the Hill Nation Summit on Wednesday to call for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, labeling the agency as irredeemably violent. Espaillat, the first previously undocumented immigrant elected to Congress, told NewsNation’s Libbey Dean that ICE is “gripped with a culture of violence” and that the aggression is “endemic in the very DNA of it right now.” He argued that the agency “needs to be dismantled.”
The New York Democrat pointed to two recent fatal shootings involving ICE officers—one in Houston and another in Biddeford, Maine—as evidence of systemic problems. He announced plans to travel to Houston for a field hearing to investigate the death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was shot by ICE agents last week. “We’re going to have this hearing and hear from witnesses, see the evidence that’s there, and get to the bottom of this,” Espaillat said, adding, “What’s going on with this rogue agency?”
Espaillat argued that Congress must have a “deep discussion” about the future of federal immigration enforcement. He specifically called for mandatory body cameras for ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, citing his own ICE and CBP Body Camera Accountability Act. That legislation builds on a pilot program launched under the Biden administration. “Any footage taken of any criminal activity or, conversely, during any pursuit that may come into question, in a court of law, that film footage is accessible as evidence,” he said. He stressed that the requirement “shouldn’t be haphazardly applied” and must be codified into law.
ICE has faced renewed scrutiny after a third incident in St. Augustine, Florida, where a Mexican national was killed after fleeing from a car during an encounter with ICE officers. The agency had reportedly considered pausing such traffic stops, but President Trump on Wednesday rejected any pause, calling the tactic one of ICE’s “most important and effective Crime Fighting tools.” The president’s defense of the stops came amid calls from Democrats for greater oversight and accountability.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin echoed Trump’s stance, stating that ICE would continue making arrests and facilitating deportations. He urged individuals in the country illegally to leave voluntarily, signaling no shift in enforcement policy despite the recent deaths.
The push to dismantle ICE is not new among progressive Democrats, but Espaillat’s personal history as a former undocumented immigrant gives his call added weight. His remarks at the Hill Nation Summit—a gathering focused on midterm strategy, tax policy, health care, and artificial intelligence—highlighted the ongoing divide between the party’s left flank and the Trump administration’s hardline immigration approach.
Separately, Houston Mayor John Whitmire has vowed a city-led investigation into the fatal ICE shooting, pushing back against federal handling of the case. The incident has galvanized local activists and lawmakers demanding transparency and reform.
Espaillat’s call for abolition comes as the broader debate over immigration enforcement intensifies ahead of the 2026 midterms, with both parties using the issue to rally their bases.
