Rep. Espaillat Calls for ICE Dismantlement at Capitol Hill Summit

The call by a sitting House Democrat to abolish a federal law enforcement agency marks a concrete policy position that could shape Democratic primary messaging ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) called for the dismantlement of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during remarks at the Hill Nation Summit in Washington on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, according to reporting by NewsNation and The Hill. Espaillat, who represents New York's 13th Congressional District and is identified by congressional records as the first person who previously lacked legal immigration status to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, made the remarks in response to questions about enforcement actions carried out by the agency in cities including Houston.

In comments reported by The Hill, Espaillat described ICE as 'an agency that's gripped with a culture of violence,' adding that the 'violence is endemic in the very DNA of it.' The congressman did not, in the portion of remarks reported, specify a legislative vehicle — such as a bill number or committee action — through which he would pursue abolition of the agency. ICE was established under the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296) and operates under the Department of Homeland Security.

Calls to abolish ICE have surfaced periodically in Democratic politics since at least 2018, when several House members introduced legislation to that effect. A search of the 119th Congress legislative record via Congress.gov does not return an active bill bearing Espaillat's name to dismantle ICE as of the date of publication. His office had not responded to a request for comment at time of publication.

Republican members of Congress and the White House have consistently opposed any reduction in ICE's authority or budget. In the FY2026 Department of Homeland Security appropriations process, House Republicans proposed increasing ICE's budget for enforcement and removal operations; the precise enacted figure remains subject to conference committee proceedings as of July 15, 2026, per the House Appropriations Committee's public records.

What remains unknown is whether Espaillat plans to introduce formal legislation, co-sponsor an existing measure, or whether his remarks reflect a broader coordinated Democratic caucus strategy. The Congressional Record, any forthcoming bill introduction in the House Clerk's office, and Federal Register notices from DHS would be the primary public documents to watch for follow-on action.