Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat, emphasizes the need for stronger oversight of ICE while rejecting the “Abolish ICE” movement, advocating for balanced immigration policies amid ongoing border challenges.
Rep. Henry Cuellar, a veteran Democratic House member representing a southern border district, has firmly rejected the “Abolish ICE” movement, asserting that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is not going anywhere. This stance comes as more than a dozen progressive Democrats, elected or reelected during the midterms, have rallied around the call to defund the agency.
Cuellar, who represents a district that includes Laredo—a city with a significant Border Patrol presence—stated that while the recent elections have ushered in a new class of Democratic Socialists of America members to Congress, they represent just “one part of the spectrum.” He highlighted the existence of many “blue dog” Democrats like himself who prioritize strong border and immigration policies.
“I don’t believe in defunding ICE, and I think the majority of Democrats do not believe in defunding ICE,” Cuellar told Fox News Digital. “But there are serious rail guards we need to put on ICE.”
Cuellar has also cautioned his party against reverting to the Biden administration’s border policies. He expressed concern that Democrats should not adopt an open-border approach that allows anyone claiming asylum to enter the country. “That policy under the Biden administration—I hope that every Democrat running for national office doesn’t do that anymore,” he said.
As the ranking member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Cuellar is poised to become chairman, which will give him considerable influence over how funding for ICE is allocated. He has often diverged from his party on immigration enforcement issues, including voting with Republicans in January to approve a Department of Homeland Security funding bill that allocated billions for ICE. However, he later opposed a $70 billion Republican-backed enforcement package due to concerns about oversight.
Cuellar has criticized ICE for targeting immigrants without criminal records, despite federal law permitting the agency to arrest individuals for civil immigration violations. He has called for increased oversight of ICE’s operations, questioning the agency’s tactics. “Anybody that thinks that what ICE is doing, going after nuns, going after pastors, going after dreamers, they think that’s normal? I don’t think so,” he remarked.
The “Abolish ICE” movement gained traction during the Trump administration, which implemented extensive immigration enforcement operations in major cities, resulting in over 1.3 million arrests and the deportation of 1.2 million undocumented immigrants, according to the White House. Critics, including Democrats and immigrant rights activists, have condemned ICE’s methods, which include targeting courthouses, churches, and job sites, as well as the conditions within detention centers. The agency has faced significant backlash following the fatal shootings of two American citizens by ICE agents in Minnesota in January 2026.
In response to these concerns, Democratic governors in states such as New York, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, and Minnesota have enacted laws limiting local and state cooperation with federal immigration officials. Meanwhile, ICE’s partnerships with Texas authorities have expanded through 287(g) agreements, which permit local officers to assist with immigration enforcement, jail screening, and administrative warrants. Texas law now mandates that most county sheriffs pursue these agreements.
Cuellar believes that local law enforcement should have a limited role in immigration enforcement. “I think the local sheriff should report somebody that’s there illegally. I think that’s it. But anything beyond that, I think we need to have a discussion,” he stated.
Texas Democratic Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa has also been critical of ICE’s tactics. At a rally in January, she condemned Governor Greg Abbott for directing state agencies to provide land and facilities for federal immigration detention. During her tenure in the state House, Hinojosa voted against a 2017 bill that required local law enforcement to cooperate with federal agencies. However, she has not called for Texas to follow the lead of New York and other blue states in completely ending cooperation with ICE.
Cuellar noted, “She is from the border from Brownsville. I haven’t heard her say that she supports defunding ICE. I don’t think she has said that. Does she probably believe in transparency and rail guards for ICE? Again, I don’t want to speak for her, but I think she does.”
Hinojosa has also sharply criticized Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, labeling it a political “grandstand.” Launched in March 2021 in response to a surge in border encounters, the operation deployed Texas Department of Public Safety officers, National Guard troops, and local law enforcement to combat illegal crossings, human smuggling, and drug trafficking. It later expanded to include state arrests and prosecutions for illegal entry, the construction of border barriers, and migrant transportation.
In a recent CBS interview, former Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz criticized the Biden administration for sending mixed messages to migrants, accusing some officials of “embracing the chaos and crisis” at the southern border. Cuellar concurred with Ortiz’s assessment, stating that the Biden administration has not effectively secured the border.
Cuellar also expressed discontent with Abbott’s deployment of Operation Lone Star, referencing a January 2024 standoff in Eagle Pass where Texas authorities restricted Border Patrol’s access to Shelby Park. “You still got to work with Border Patrol, regardless if it’s a Democrat or Republican at the White House itself,” Cuellar said. “So I can understand why there was that criticism, but still the Governor should have done a better job working with us at the federal level. And I hope that this new governor—and I think she will—work with us.”
Cuellar emphasized the need for balance and nuance in immigration policy, expressing a willingness to collaborate with Trump and Republicans in the coming years. “There are Democrats who are willing to work with the administration, with President Trump, but it takes two to have a deal,” he noted.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin affirmed that deportations will continue. “Our mission is simple and non-negotiable: secure the border, protect American lives, and control everything and everyone coming into this country. We are focused on getting the job done and enthusiastically partner with any official dedicated to achieving that goal,” said CBP Assistant Commissioner Hilton Beckham.
Fox News Digital reached out to Hinojosa for comment.