Graves: Proposal to abolish ICE is ridiculous

(From Sixth District Congressman Sam Graves)

Illegal immigrants continue to flow across the border while our border agents struggle to keep up. Drug cartels and gangs pour into our country, ripping apart families. Human traffickers use the border to grow their heinous operations.

And who’s the real bad guy in all of this?

According to the far LEFT, it’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

That’s right.

Somehow, liberals have decided that the men and women who are tasked with protecting our borders are the ones who need to be reined in. You can’t make this stuff up!

After ICE started removing more illegal immigrants, otherwise known as doing their job, the radical Left became indignant. An “Abolish ICE” movement was started because apparently ICE has been doing their job too well!

Not only do they not want a wall on the border, they don’t even want security on the border. They say they want a “humane” immigration system. It sounds to me like “humane” means open borders.

I’d like to say they aren’t serious about the idea, but a bill was introduced earlier in Congress to carry out abolishing ICE.

While I think this is a ridiculous proposal that has no chance of going anywhere as long as I have anything to say about it, I do think we have to be vigilant to make sure our borders are protected.

I was proud to vote last week to send a loud and clear message that we support our agents and their mission. If ICE didn’t exist, the 127,000 criminal illegal aliens who were arrested, the 2,370 pounds of fentanyl and the 6,967 pounds of heroin that were seized last year, would exist in the United States.

The outrageous suggestion to abolish this agency is irresponsible, and it would wreak havoc in communities across Missouri and there is no doubt we are safer because of their work. I’m not sure what more evidence is needed that ICE plays a vital role in our homeland security.

Earlier this year, I was happy to support increased funding for border security. However, we need to do more. We got our first look last week at a bill that will provide much-needed funding for a wall on the southern border. Not only that, but it would add another 400 ICE agents and go a long way towards being able to fully patrol the border.

I’ve always supported building a wall on the border and making sure we have the border security that we need. While I’m appalled that some are starting to target an agency that does the dangerous work of keeping us safe, I am confident that many of my colleagues share my views on illegal immigration and will continue to stand firm for a strong border and the rule of law.