Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.) is drafting legislation that would abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). So far, the proposal is backed by Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), and Mike Capuano (D-Mass.).
Rep. Capuano's support for eliminating ICE comes as he is running against Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley, who has made abolishing ICE a key priority in the primary race.
Rep. Pocan announced his intention to draft legislation after protests against the Trump Administration's "zero tolerance" policy on illegal border crossings took place last week near ICE facilities across the country. The demonstrations prompted some facilities to set up protective barriers close to entrances or after hearings on immigration.
According to a press release on Rep. Pocan's website, his proposal would "dismantle ICE and create a commission to provide recommendations to Congress on how the U.S. government can implement a humane immigration enforcement system that upholds the dignity of all individuals while transferring necessary functions to other agencies."
For more on this story, see The Hill.
