DNC Approves Competing Resolutions on ICE

At the Democratic National Committee’s summer meeting in Austin, Texas, members adopted two parallel resolutions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). One resolution, known as Resolution 27, calls on Democratic members of Congress to draft legislation that would dissolve ICE and wind down the immigration detention system. A second, reform-focused resolution, sponsored by DNC chairman Ken Martin, seeks concrete changes such as ending workplace raids, limiting enforcement near schools and houses of worship, and terminating contracts with private detention providers. Both measures passed the full membership on a unanimous voice vote, though the votes are non-binding and do not alter the party platform slated for the 2028 convention.

Daily WireThe Epoch Times

The abolition proposal cleared the DNC’s Resolutions Committee by a 25-12 vote with one abstention, while the reform measure attracted broader committee support. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have stopped short of endorsing abolition, instead urging reforms such as visible agent identification and restrictions on enforcement near schools and churches. The split reflects a broader strategic tension ahead of the 2024 midterm elections, as Democrats weigh immigration-focused messaging against other voter priorities.

Daily Wire

• Ken Martin, DNC chairman – “Our official party positions are determined at the convention every four years in our platform.” “Our official party positions are determined at the convention every four years in our platform,” — Ken Martin, DNC chairman

Daily Wire

• “Clearly, the one thing that unites Democrats, regardless of their position on reform versus abolish or whatever other ways to change what’s happening, is people believe that what ICE is doing right now—and CBP [Customs and Border Protection] and the federal government—should stop,” — Ken Martin, DNC chairman

Daily Wire

• Michele Johnson, DNC member from Louisiana (proposer of the abolition measure) said Democrats need a clear stance, citing the dissolution of the Immigration and Naturalization Service as precedent.

The Epoch Times

• Yvonne Reeves-Chong, DNC member, voted against abolition, warning it would win only part of the base and draw fire from other voters.

Daily Wire

Marquette Law School’s national survey released August 5 found inflation and cost of living were the top concerns for 35 % of adults, while immigration and border security ranked at 5 %—down from 14 % in January. The same poll showed President Trump’s overall approval at 40 % and that 56 % of respondents still favored deporting illegal immigrants, with 65 % of that group approving ICE’s conduct.

Daily Wire

Because the resolutions are nonbinding, they do not immediately alter ICE operations or the DNC’s formal platform. Nonetheless, the unanimous voice vote signals a unified rhetorical stance that could influence congressional debates and voter perceptions as the party navigates a crowded midterm landscape.

Daily Wire