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Bridgette Castronovo

Mrs. Tatum, 4th Pd.

AP Language and Composition

4 March 2021

America Needs to Abolish ICE

Introduction

Without a doubt, the Trump administration brought a host of social issues to the forefront

of American politics, but perhaps no issue demonstrates the stark division in political opinion

more so than immigration, an issue which has persisted in many forms throughout our nation's

history. In the present day, the strict enforcement of numerous controversial policies by ICE ( US

Immigration and Customs Enforcement) such as family separation, prolonged detainment,

limited opportunities for citizenship, frequent deportations etc., have received significant

coverage by the media which renewed contentious discussion over immigration policies and

reform. As a result, Americans are becoming increasingly aware of both the achievements and

shortcomings of the US immigration system which has caused a polarized response to the idea of

immigration reform over whether immigration laws are too stringent or too lenient.

In short, the nature of the immigration debate incites political controversy, and as such,

many Americans believe immigration policies should be extremely selective in order to protect

the American economy. Under this position, immigrants, particularly those from Latin America,

are commonly stereotyped as unskilled or lazy and thought to be an economic burden on society

while simultaneously being considered a threat to American jobs (paradox). This commonly held

position presents a fallacious line of reasoning as it stands to reason that a person cannot
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logically be both significant competition for a job while also having a poor work ethic or a lack

of the skills necessary for meaningful employment. Personally, the debate over immigration

interests me greatly because it serves as a prime example of a topic about which people have

exceedingly strong opinions supported by little to no working factual knowledge. In my personal

experience, discussions about immigration almost always include statements which twist thinly

veiled bigotry and ignorance into economic concerns which then are argued as indisputable fact

as demonstrated by the paradoxical argument presented above. I have seen the detrimental

impacts of racial stereotyping in my community first hand through my experiences playing on a

soccer team with many Hispanic girls whose families immigrated from various countries in Latin

America. There have been several instances in which players or parents from the other team have

muttered comments under their breath to the effect of “in America we speak English'' whenever

girls on my team communicate with one another in Spanish. Instances such as these demonstrate

larger feelings of xenophobia and racial stereotyping within American society which can have

significant impacts on the lives of immigrants and their families who frequently face

discrimination and even violence as a result of anti-immigrant attitudes.

Viewpoints such as the one demonstrated by the aforementioned example are all too

common in the immigration debate, which supports the growing need to remove racial bias and

fear-based discrimination from fact and legislation. As such, addressing logical fallacies

commonly presented in arguments surrounding immigration and dismantling any institutions

within the government which perpetuate racial stereotyping, bias, or discrimination is necessary

in order to increase the possibility for bipartisan efforts to reach a common goal: to reform the

immigration system to better protect immigrants and to reflect the rights afforded to all people

under the constitution.

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Literature Review

The immigration system in the United States has recently come under intense scrutiny by

the press for its revocation of more lenient policies pertaining to citizenship and the

implementation of “crack down” legislation enforced by ICE, a relationship explored in detail by

researchers and humanitarian groups. To ascertain the extent to which ICE detention centers

harm immigrants, Silky Shah, the executive director of the American Watch Network, examines

the results of an independent medical review of case studies pertaining to medical care in

immigrant detention centers and concludes that immigrants in ICE detention centers face a host

of issues related to the lack of adequate health care such as medical negligence, overcrowding,

and exposure to Covid-19 all of which contributed to the 200% increase in immigrant deaths in

detention centers in 2020 compared to 2019 (3). Shah uses her review of pertinent case studies to

construct her argument calling for the end of ICE and the restructuring of the American

immigration system on the basis that prolonged detainment can have severe health consequences

on immigrants. In a similar way, a panel of doctors from the American Society of Pediatrics

detail the results of a study which found that immigrant children held in detention centers face

“high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation” as a

result of the psychological trauma that detention can have on young children (Linton et al. 15).

Both of these bodies of literature demonstrate the dangers faced by immigrants in detention

centers and call for immediate revision of detention policies because of the proven negative

impact that detention at the border has on both the physical and emotional health of migrants.

However, it is important to note that it can be difficult to separate mental trauma caused by

detention centers with that of trauma caused by external circumstances which needs to be

considered when examining data pertaining to the mental health of migrants (Shah 15). Even
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though quantifying trauma can prove difficult at times, the lasting impact that harsh immigration

laws and practices have on immigrants cannot be discounted.

Additional researchers and economists have focused their attention on clarifying the

relationship between immigration and the economy as economic concerns are perhaps the most

commonly cited motivation for more stringent immigration policies. To this end, researchers

from Center on Budget and Policy analyzed statistics to argue that in fact, immigrants who are

low wage workers typically have a lower unemployment rate than native born adults and that

nearly 93% of adult immigrants who rely on one or more welfare programs are employed or

married to someone in the labor force and as such contribute significantly to the economy

(Sherman et al. 2). Additionally, the aforementioned group of immigrants who are classified as

low wage workers are essential to many industries such as hospitality, agriculture, and

manufacturing which are fields that require large numbers of workers but do not typically appeal

to the increasingly educated American youth and young adults in the workforce. The study

conducted by Sherman et al. uses these statistics to refute the claim that low wage workers are an

economic burden on society and that they drain welfare programs with little return when in fact

statistical analysis proves the opposite to be true. In a similar, way Vice President for

Immigration Policy at American Progress, Tom Jawetz, argues a claim which helps to

corroborate the position of Sherman et al. by presenting a written testimony before the House

Committee on the Budget in which he cites studies conducted by leading economists which

prove immigrants have numerous positive effects on the economy: 30% of immigrants are

classified as entrepreneurs compared to 16% of native born adults, immigrants are 20% more

likely to own a small business, and contrary to popular knowledge, refugees contributed to a net

fiscal impact of $63 billion dollars in 2019 (1). However, it is important to note that Jawetz
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references another article detailing the idea of bias in regards to immigration and instances when

the government has not been completely transparent with the results of studies and stresses the

need for the removal of political bias in statistical analysis in order to explain the pressing

relevance of his argument (Sengupta 1; Jawetz 9). Jawetz strengthens his testimony by

referencing Sengupta’s article on bias and presenting a strong argument which claims that

immigrants are an essential part of a dynamic labor force and eventually reaches the same

conclusions as Sherman et al.: immigrants have a positive net impact on the economy.

Another important topic in the debate over immigration surrounds alternative options to

stringent immigration laws and detainment practices. In an article for the American Center of

Progress, Jowatez calls for the establishment of a humane asylum and refugee system,

commitment to due process in immigration courts, and a path to citizenship for the

undocumented (5). Research analyst Christine Steng and the deputy director of Center for

Effective Public Management, John Hudak, expand upon the theme of due process explored by

Jowatez by presenting the statistic that nearly 30% of all detention centers are owned either by

ICE or private companies and do not necessarily have to comply with government policies such

as transparency and due process (11). Jawetz includes statistical evidence to support his

argument which suggests partnering with alternative entities such as non-profits rather than with

privately owned companies to mitigate the economic motive that can sometimes contribute to the

inhumane policies and violation of civil rights, a view point corroborated by Jawetz in his article

(Steng 15; Jawetz 20).

Argument
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As discussed previously, immigration is a multifaceted social issue consisting of many

social, political, and economic variables which make reform a daunting task. However, one

component of the current immigration system which has recently come under intense criticism

for its lack of commitment to the American principles of justice and due process: US

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, more commonly known as ICE. This specific agency

within the government was founded upon the principle of protecting national security and

ensuring the public safety of the United States from border-related crime after the tragedy of

9/11 and as such ICE has only existed since 2001. Clearly, this mission statement has been

twisted beyond repair as in today’s society, people in many communities equate ICE with a

culture of racial discrimination, gross abuse of power, corruption, and fear. It is precisely

because ICE has come to represent these anti-American sentiments that it must be abolished

entirely. Regardless of original intent, no system responsible for the continued violation of due

process, human rights, and American values can be allowed to function within the American

immigration system.

Before entering into the specifics regarding the argument for the abolishment of ICE, one

must address the counterclaim that the abolition of this agency constitutes a radical leftist

conspiracy which will lead to open borders, increased crime, and economic panic. While these

concerns cited by proponents of ICE initially appear to be perfectly valid, upon closer

examination, it becomes apparent that this position has little merit. In order to debunk the entire

chain of events that would be theoretically sparked by the abolition of ICE, the audience must be

made aware that the jurisdiction of ICE pertains to the enforcement of immigration law within

the United States, not border regulation which in fact falls under the jurisdiction of the US

Customs and Border Protection Agency and as such, the abolition of ICE will in no way lead to
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unregulated immigration (negation). In a similar way, the abolition of ICE is not nearly the

radical idea it is often portrayed to be as the government constantly redistributes and reforms

agencies for various reasons; to this end, the important role that ICE does play in counter-

terrorism, smuggling, and Homeland Security will be reallocated to appropriate agencies while

the enforcement of laws pertaining to immigration will be left -gasp- to the police as done prior

to 2001. As a result, the abolition of ICE would not spark mass chaos, but rather demonstrate the

commitment of the United States to dismantle institutions that profit from discrimination.

Perhaps the reason most commonly cited by proponents of the abolition of ICE relates to

the way in which ICE has continuously abused its power as a United States Government Agency

to the detriment of immigrants and their families. Multiple instances demonstrating an abuse of

power are readily apparent by the fact that ICE supplies for-profit detention centers with

immigrants which have a minimum number of beds that must be maintained at all times. While

these beds do not necessarily have to be filled at all times, ICE receives a tiered profit for the

percentage of beds filled which creates a deeply problematic motive to place immigrants in

detention centers. Once immigrants arrive in these detention centers, they experience a multitude

of harrowing living conditions: overcrowding, lack of access to medical care, poor sanitation,

lack of legal representation, prolonged detainment, and in some cases, family separation. These

examples demonstrate not only a complete dehumanization of immigrants which has become

prevalent in the immigration system today, but a lack of human empathy inconsistent with the

values of modern society.

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Figure 1: Mom and child shown behind

bars represented by the stripes on the

American flag which calls attention to the

paradoxical relationship between detention

centers and the American value of freedom

symbolized by the flag.

An additional reason which

supports why ICE must be abolished is presented in the way in which ICE deviates drastically

from the American values of transparency in the government, justice, and due process. To

illustrate this phenomenon, a disturbing parallel becomes apparent through the examination of

ICE and its role in US immigration and its similarities to the Gestapo Secret Police of Nazi

Germany who rounded up, detained, and deported Polish immigrants prior to World War II.

While the parallel demonstrating the harsh nature of the policies of both ICE and the Gestapo

presents itself in a self-evident manner, a more significant continuity between the two agencies

stems from the atmosphere which these organizations created within the targeted communities

namely, the propagation of a culture of anxiety, persecution, and fear. As such, the manner in

which ICE functions in today’s society directly conflicts with ideals of the United States
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Government surrounding democracy and justice which presents a compelling argument for why

ICE must be abolished on the grounds of protecting the interests of a free, democratic society.

Conclusion

The complexity of the issues inherent to the immigration debate cannot be overstated and

as such, it would therefore be remiss to presume that there exists a simple solution which will

satisfy all parties (concession). However, in order to facilitate a more productive discussion

surrounding the immigration system, it is imperative to remove the racial bias which frequently

influences public opinion and to ensure that all policies adhere to a strict standard of human

decency and commitment to transparency. In order to achieve this goal, any and all institutions

which directly promote a culture of discrimination, bias, injustice, or fear must be removed or

restructured entirely. Therefore, because of its perpetual propagation of a culture of bias and

discrimination, ICE must be completely dismantled. Until the debate over immigration centers

around protecting the inalienable rights endowed to all rather than promoting the agendas of a

few, the goal of achieving any meaningful change in the immigration system will largely remain

unattainable.
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Works Cited

Blunt, Mitch. "US: Poor Medical Care, Deaths, in Immigrant Detention." Human Rights

Watch, 28 Oct. 2020, www.hrw.org/news/2018/06/20/us-poor-medical-care-

deaths-immigrant-detention. Accessed 9 Mar. 2021.

Hudak, John, and Christine Stenglein. "How States Can Improve America’s Immigration

System." Brookings, 10 Sept. 2019, www.brookings.edu/research/how-states-

can-improve-americas-immigration-system/. Accessed 9 Mar .2021.

Jawetz, Tom. "Building a More Dynamic Economy: The Benefits of Immigration."

Center for American Progress, 26 June 2019,

www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/reports/2019/06/26/471497/build

ing-dynamic-economy-benefits-immigration/. Accessed 9 Mar. 2021.

Jawetz, Tom. "Restoring the Rule of Law Through a Fair, Humane, and Workable

Immigration System." Center for American Progress, 22 July 2019,

www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/reports/2019/07/22/472378/restor

ing-rule-law-fair-humane-workable-immigration-system/. Accessed 9 Mar. 2021.

Linton, Julie, et al. "Detention of Immigrant Children." American Academy of

Pediatrics, 13 Mar. 2017,

pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2017/03/09/peds.2017-0483.

Accessed 9 Mar. 2021.

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Sengupta, Somini, and Julie Davis. "Somini Sengupta." The New York Times - Breaking

News, US News, World News and Videos, 26 Feb. 2021,

www.nytimes.com/by/somini-sengupta. Accessed 10 Mar. 2021.

Shah, Silky. "Why America Still Needs to Abolish ICE." NBC News, 14 Oct. 2020,

www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/why-america-still-needs-abolish-ice-

ncna1243293. Accessed 10 Feb. 2021.

Sherman, Arloc, et al. "Immigrants Contribute Greatly to U.S. Economy, Despite

Administration’s “Public Charge” Rule Rationale." Center on Budget and Policy

Priorities, 15 Aug. 2019, www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-

inequality/immigrants-contribute-greatly-to-us-economy-despite-administrations.

Accessed 10 Mar. 2021.