Senator Fetterman Urges Democrats to Avoid ‘Extreme’ Positions Such as Abolishing ICE

In a bold stance against what he describes as “extreme” positions within his own party, Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has publicly urged fellow Democrats to resist calls to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), highlighting growing divisions among Democrats on immigration policy.

“Even Mayor Frey of Minneapolis doesn’t support abolishing ICE. The party must resist the destructive tendencies to push extreme positions,” Fetterman stated in a recent post on social media platform X. “Secure the border. Deport all the criminals. Stop targeting the hardworking migrants in our nation.”

The Pennsylvania senator’s comments come amid renewed debate over ICE’s role and future, with some progressive Democrats advocating for the agency’s complete dissolution. His post featured a screenshot of a New York Times headline discussing the “Abolish ICE” movement within Democratic circles.

This isn’t the first time Fetterman has broken ranks with the more progressive wing of his party on immigration enforcement. In July 2025, he declared that “ICE performs an important job for our country,” describing calls to abolish the agency as “inappropriate and outrageous.”

Later that month, Fetterman shared a Fox News Digital article reporting that ICE had arrested over 200 undocumented immigrants with child sex offense convictions in the Houston area over a six-month period. While acknowledging his disagreement with some of the agency’s tactics, Fetterman expressed support for such enforcement actions, stating, “I do fully support moves like these. This makes our nation more secure and all our children safer.”

The debate over ICE’s future has intensified in recent months, with Representative Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) introducing legislation that would completely eliminate the agency. The bill proposes abolishing ICE 90 days after the legislation’s enactment, though it faces significant hurdles in the current political climate.

Fetterman’s stance reflects the complex political dynamics surrounding immigration enforcement. As Democrats navigate these internal divisions, his position represents a more moderate approach that acknowledges the need for immigration enforcement while pushing for reforms to focus on serious criminals rather than working immigrants.

Immigration experts note that the “Abolish ICE” movement gained significant momentum in 2018 following controversial family separation policies at the southern border. However, the practical implications of dismantling a major federal law enforcement agency remain contentious, with critics questioning what would replace ICE’s various enforcement functions.

The debate over immigration enforcement comes at a critical time for both parties. Republicans have consistently made border security a central campaign issue, while Democrats have faced internal struggles to develop a coherent message that balances humanitarian concerns with security priorities.

Recent polling suggests that voters remain deeply divided on immigration issues, with concerns about border security competing with support for pathways to legal status for long-term undocumented residents, particularly those brought to the country as children.

Fetterman, who has established himself as a maverick within the Democratic party on several issues, continues to advocate for what he characterizes as practical, security-focused immigration policies while rejecting the more radical calls for abolishing enforcement agencies entirely.

As Congress continues to grapple with comprehensive immigration reform, the debate over ICE’s role and authority represents just one facet of a broader struggle to address an immigration system widely acknowledged by members of both parties as fundamentally broken.