Chronicle poll results: Abolishing ICE

Last week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an online poll the following question: “Are you in favor of abolishing ICE (United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement)?” Of the 385 people who responded, 48% said “Yes”; 30% said, “No, but I believe it should be reformed”; and 22% said “No.” Comments were submitted by 116 people. A few follow.

They are illegally killing U.S. citizens. They are brutal, wearing masks and have no restrictions. Horrific!

The concept is fine; the execution (no pun intended) is deplorable. As long as respectable and properly vetted civil servants are hired instead of jackbooted thugs, I would support ICE.

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The United States needs some governing body; every other country appears to have more stringent policies on immigration.

They are American storm troopers. This ought to resonate with Jews everywhere. The level of violence, indiscriminate beatings, arrests and murders is alarming and reminiscent of the sort of police state we witnessed in Europe and Latin America in the 20th century. No one is safe unless we all are safe. And make no mistake: It may not include Jews now, but it is certain these brown-shirt types will eventually come for us, too. Be forewarned.

We need immigration enforcement. The problem is the leadership. Kristi Noem should not be allowed anywhere near the Department of Homeland Security.

They have a very specific law enforcement mission, and should be encouraged and supported in doing their job as efficiently and effectively as possible. If not ICE, who will enforce our immigration and customs laws? Who will deport illegals from our country? Certainly not local or state police. They have a very different mission than ICE. Immigration is a federal issue that requires federal agents. The administration has offered voluntary deportation and many have chosen that route, but not enough. We must clean up our house before letting guests back in. How do we do that without ICE? Give me a better solution and we can talk, but to simply criticize and condemn is not at all helpful.

The current ICE leadership should be prosecuted as well as individual agents that break the law.

Abolishing ICE is as bad of an idea as “abolish the police.”

Abolish it quickly and for all time. Establish instead the U.S. Immigration Compassion Commission.

Big time reform is necessary! There is no reason for ICE agents to be masked nor should they be allowed to just grab people off the streets or out of homes or cars without warrants. It feels like a version of the SS!

ICE’s actions indicate that the organization is not fixable, but the problem does not end there. We need our leaders in Congress — particularly Sens. Fetterman and McCormick — to stand up and demand humane immigration enforcement policies that respect international law.

ICE is attempting to enforce the law of our democracy as written. Local officials and their police departments are violating their oaths to protect and defend the Constitution by failing to maintain order within their jurisdictions. As Diaspora Jews, the rule of law protects us from the mob. A mob is a mob regardless of its members’ motivation. Surrendering to the mob endangers all of us. So, I support ICE in its efforts to enforce the law.

While we do need an agency to monitor and enforce immigration law, ICE is assaulting and killing people in the streets. They have become the gestapo and that is wholly unacceptable. The agency needs to be dissolved and a new agency, with moral and legal clarity should be built. PJC