President Donald Trump responded to growing calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Saturday morning, saying, “Zero chance, It will never happen.”
The president sent a tweet aimed at Democrats, some of whom have openly called for ICE to be reorganized or disbanded altogether. He also defended ICE’s accomplishments, particularly with regard to the violent gang MS-13.
The Democrats are making a strong push to abolish ICE, one of the smartest, toughest and most spirited law enforcement groups of men and women that I have ever seen. I have watched ICE liberate towns from the grasp of MS-13 & clean out the toughest of situations. They are great!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 30, 2018
Trump followed up with another tweet promising that ICE would not be abolished on his watch.(RELATED: Kirsten Gillibrand: First Senator To Call For ICE To Be Abolished)
To the great and brave men and women of ICE, do not worry or lose your spirit. You are doing a fantastic job of keeping us safe by eradicating the worst criminal elements. So brave! The radical left Dems want you out. Next it will be all police. Zero chance, It will never happen!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 30, 2018
Thus far, nine sitting members of Congress (all Democrats) have claimed that ICE need to go. Those nine are Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) and Kamala Harris (CA) — who are both considered to be “in the running” for the 2020 presidential nomination — and Representatives Mark Pocan (WI), Pramila Jayapal (WA), Earl Blumenauer (OR), Nydia Velasquez (NY), Jim McGovern (MA), Raul Grijalva (AZ) and Michael Capuano (MA).
Members of Congress calling for ICE to be abolished pic.twitter.com/5n9N9dad4j
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) June 30, 2018