Border Dem poised to wield ICE purse strings rejects socialist defund push
A longtime Democratic House member representing a southern border district said Immigration and Customs Enforcement is not going anywhere as "Abolish ICE" became a rallying cry for more than a dozen progressive Democrats elected or reelected in the midterms.While the elections brought a new class of Democratic Socialists of America members to Congress, Rep.Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, told Fox News Digital that they make up just "one part of the spectrum" and that there are many "blue dogs" like himself who value strong border and immigration policies."I don't believe in defunding ICE and I think the majority of the Democrats do not believe defunding ICE, but there are serious rail guards we need put on ICE," Cuellar said.Cuellar also warned Democrats against returning to the Biden administration’s border policies.DEM REP SETH MOULTON SAYS PARTY HAS NO IMMIGRATION PLAN, IS ONLY ‘OPPOSITION TO TRUMP’House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee member Rep.
Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, questions U.S.Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin during a hearing on Jun.
25, 2026 in Washington, D.C.(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)"We just can't open up the border and just say anybody that wants to claim asylum can come to the borders.
That policy under Biden administration — I hope that every Democrat running for national office doesn't do that anymore," Cuellar said.Cuellar, who is currently the ranking member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, is poised to become chairman, giving him significant influence over how funding for ICE is allocated.The congressman's district includes Laredo, where Border Patrol has a major presence.Cuellar has repeatedly broken with his party on immigration enforcement, including voting with Republicans in January to approve a DHS funding bill that included billions for ICE, though he later opposed a $70 billion Republican-backed enforcement package over concerns about oversight.Cuellar has criticized ICE for pursui...