It’s time we abolish ICE

We’ve all experienced a phone app that’s not working properly, or a computer program that freezes the machine. What do you do? Lesson number one: shut it down.

It works for computers. Maybe that’s what we need to do with Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) and other agencies that are failing us in the Department of Homeland Security.

I voted against the formation of ICE in 2002 and have been concerned with the actions of the agency for quite some time.

There is no turning back when agents of the federal government and our “commander-in-chief” lose respect for humanity and treat people like animals.

We should abolish ICE and start over, focusing on our priorities to protect our families and our borders in a humane and thoughtful fashion. Now is the time for immigration reform that ensures people are treated with compassion and respect. Not only because it is the moral thing to do, but it’s better policy and will cost less.

One of the most depressing things about this recent scandal is that we have a federal government that cannot keep track of the children it detains. Amazon and the United States Postal Service can give you real-time information about the location of your packages, but the federal government cannot account for 2,300 children in their custody? This is a failure of epic proportions.

To regain the trust of the American people, it’s time we abolish ICE.