Rep. Beto O'Rourke says 'abolishing ICE does nothing'

Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-Texas, dismissed calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Wednesday.

Take a look at the immigration crisis through photographs. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-Texas, dismissed calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Wednesday.

Take a look at the immigration crisis through photographs. Photo: Carolyn Kaster, STF / Associated Press Photo: Carolyn Kaster, STF / Associated Press Image 1 of / 53 Caption Close Rep. Beto O'Rourke says 'abolishing ICE does nothing' 1 / 53 Back to Gallery

El Paso congressman and Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke dismissed calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Wednesday.

"I just don't understand, it's not clear to me what that would accomplish," O'Rourke said during ABC News' Powerhouse Politics podcast.

"Of everything that I just described, ICE has very little to do with it," O'Rourke said.

He explained that Customs and Border Protection, Health and Human Services and Office of Refugee Resettlement were responsible for the separation of migrant families and subsequent failure to timely reunite them.

The Senate hopeful also brought up the increasingly treacherous and deadly journey migrants were being forced take because of physical barriers.

"Abolishing ICE does nothing to resolve any of those issues," O'Rourke said. "It is the practices. It is the way in which we are treating our fellow human beings that needs to be changed— and that won't come with a slogan, or a bumper sticker or the abolition of one department."

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"It will come through thoughtful policy that brings people from both parties together to address some of these outstanding issues," he said.

The sentiment echoes comments O'Rourke made earlier this month on the campaign trail.

At the time, the El Paso Democrat said he was "open" to "doing away" with ICE, "giving that responsibility to somebody else," or changing how the agency performs, but ultimately said the move alone would not solve the problem— remarks that Ted Cruz seized on to attack O'Rourke.

In recent months, a growing number of Democrats have called to abolish ICE, including Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who said the agency had "become a deportation force," and Sen. Kamala Harris who said the government should "start from scratch."

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Fernando Ramirez covers Texas news and politics. Read him on our breaking news site and on our subscriber site. | Fernando.ramirez@chron.com | @fernramirez93



