A House Democrat has introduced legislation that would abolish the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and replace it with a new department focused on community safety, three weeks before an election where immigration policy is likely to have an influence on voters. The "Reimagining Safety Act," introduced by Illinois Representative Delia Ramirez Tuesday, goes beyond previous plans to simply abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by dismantling the parent department set up in the wake of 9/11.
The Congresswoman's spokesperson told Newsweek that the bill would keep vital functions such as FEMA and the TSA going under different departments, with a separate civil immigration system under the Department of Justice. Ramirez has been a vocal opponent of the Trump administration's immigration policies, which have also seen widespread pushback from Democrats across the U.S., but the sweeping nature of the proposal is likely to draw scrutiny so close to the midterms. "There are legitimate reasons to reconsider how DHS operates," Adam Klein, a former senior DHS official and co-founderof Globali.ai, told Newsweek.
"Immigration enforcement, detention practices, civil liberties, accountability, and the department's increasingly aggressive law enforcement posture all deserve serious scrutiny. "Congresswoman Ramirez's proposal raises important questions about whether the department has moved too far from its original mission. My concern is the distance between what the legislation proposes and the operational responsibilities that still need to be performed.
Eliminating or relocating agencies does not eliminate the government's responsibilities for border security, immigration enforcement, disaster response, cybersecurity, or counterterrorism," Klein said. "Instead of the weapon DHS has proven to be, we need a department built on the best parts of who we are and can be, and the best examples of how we can take care of each other in hard times. I am proud to have led that work with the organizations in my district and nationally," Ramirez said in a press release.
"Building something new, creating in a time of destruction, is a revolutionary act. It is proof of our hope and belief in what is possible even in dark times. A different world is possible because the people have the power to reshape our government and reimagine how we cultivate safety and collective well-being." The overarching plan outlined in the bill is to dismantle DHS after 25 years.
ICE would be scrapped altogether, with Ramirez calling for all detained immigrants to be released within six months. The bill would repeal the major detention authorities outlined in immigration law, end contracts with major detention facilities, and ban future spending on immigration detention and monitoring programs. ICE's existing ankle monitor program would end, with all immigrants currently being monitored having their devices removed.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
