This Georgia Dem Wants To Abolish ICE and ‘Shut Down’ Illegal Immigrant Detention Centers

A Georgia Democratic nominee repeatedly called to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and argued that carrying out the country's immigration laws is rooted in "white supremacy" and "xenophobia."

Bee Nguyen, Georgia Democrats' nominee for secretary of state, has a long history of anti-ICE rhetoric. From September to October 2020, Nguyen called to abolish ICE on five separate occasions—in one instance, the Democrat called to "shutdown the detention centers," where illegal immigrants—many of whom have a criminal record—are housed ahead of removal proceedings. In another, Nguyen called ICE "rogue" and "cruel" and contended that illegal immigrant enforcement is conducted "in the name of power, white supremacy, money, xenophobia, and political pandering." Roughly 30 percent of ICE agents are Latino.

Nguyen's calls to abolish ICE continued into January 2021, when President Joe Biden took office. The United States went on to experience a surge in illegal immigrant encounters. In 2021, for example, the country hit a record-high 1.73 million illegal immigrant apprehensions. That number is on pace to exceed 2 million this year.