New DNC Vice Chair Called to Abolish ICE

The newly elected Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg once called for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be abolished in a tweet.

“Abolish ICE,” Hogg said in a post on X in July 2020, which has resurfaced.

Newsweek has contacted the DNC for further comment via email outside of normal office hours.

Why It Matters

ICE has been thrust to the forefront of the national conversation on immigration. Since the start of Trump’s second term, hundreds of suspected illegal migrants have been arrested. Under the current administration, ICE has gained expanded powers in enforcement, including the right to conduct raids in places of worship, schools, and hospitals.

Critics say immigration raids sow fear in vulnerable communities and that they violate protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. Issues including warrantless arrests, data collection without consent, and detentions without probable cause could be deemed unconstitutional and may prompt potential legal battles over balancing immigration enforcement with individual rights.

Immigration and mass deportations were key components of President Trump’s successful 2024 campaign. Americans largely support the president’s mass deportation plans but disagree about how policies should be carried out. A poll by The New York Times and Ipsos from January 2 to 10 found that 55 percent of voters strongly or somewhat supported such plans. Eighty-eight percent supported “deporting immigrants who are here illegally and have criminal records.”

What To Know

Hogg also called for the defunding of police and for the NRA to be declared a “terrorist organization.” The posts were shared over two years after Hogg survived a school shooting and became more actively engaged in political activism, particularly advocating for stricter gun laws.

On February 14, 2018, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, part of the Miami metropolitan area, killing 17 people and injuring 17 others. A former student at the school, Cruz fled on foot by blending in with other students but was arrested without incident about an hour and 20 minutes later.

Following the school shooting, Hogg became a prominent leader in the 2018 U.S. gun violence protests.

Fast forward seven years later, and he is helping to lead efforts by the DNC to rebuild the party.

Hogg’s appointment as vice chair of the DNC comes amid a period of deep reflection for the Democratic Party, as many commentators attribute its poor 2024 performance to the party’s perceived weakness on border security and illegal immigration. How his appointment could bolster perceptions of the party in this regard remains to be seen.

The DNC also announced on Saturday that its members have elected Ken Martin as its new chairperson.

ICE raids have been occurring throughout the country in major cities since Trump returned to office.

The raids seen in the first few days of the new Trump administration included the arrests of Luis Alberto Espinoza-Boconsaca in New York, who the White House said had been convicted of rape, and Cristofer Alexander Ramirez-Olivia, detained in Minnesota following a conviction for 3rd-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

A parent from the South Whidbey School District in Washington state was reportedly detained in an immigration raid.

What People Are Saying

Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg said in a post, X: “I’ve just been elected as a Vice Chair of the DNC. I’m deeply grateful to the members for their trust and belief in me and I don’t take it lightly. Now it’s time to get to work.

“It’s time we stop surrendering, go on offense, and take the fight to Donald Trump and every single Republican who is gutting our rights, attacking workers, and rigging the system for the wealthy and well-connected,” Hogg said.

What Happens Next

The new DNC leadership will help to reshape and remold the Democratic Party as it looks to bounce back after suffering heavy losses to Trump and the GOP.