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.
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What the Bill Would Do
"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.
Under the proposal, the construction of the border wall would be halted, while the Border Patrol's integrated surveillance tower program would be terminated.
Some agencies would be moved elsewhere within the federal government, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) falling under a new Department of Community Safety.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the U.S. Coast Guard would move to the Department of Transportation, and the Treasury would take care of CBP's customs and trade-related duties.
As for immigration enforcement, that would be dealt with by the Department of Justice, while CBP facilities at the border would be used as effective welcome centers for asylum seekers to meet social workers, medical professionals, and interpreters.
"America’s brave ICE agents put their lives on the line every day to enforce U.S. law and arrest criminal illegal aliens—including gang members, rapists, and murderers. Representative Ramirez should be thanking our law enforcement for removing these dangerous criminals from her district—NOT vilifying law enforcement," a DHS spokesperson told Newsweek Tuesday. "This type of rhetoric is contributing to a more than 1,300% increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line."
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Why the Bill Matters Now
The proposal arrives as Republicans continue to campaign heavily on border security and illegal immigration, issues which have repeatedly ranked among voters' top concerns in recent years.
Political analysts have long pointed to immigration as one of the GOP's strongest issues, while Democrats have struggled to reach a consensus on the issue in recent years.
While tackling illegal immigration was an issue that helped reelect President Donald Trump in 2024, the president has seen support waver over the past year amid violent clashes between federal agents and American citizens, as well as sweeping arrests of immigrants without legal status who do not have other criminal records.
Trump has even seen some Republicans begin to break away from the GOP's core message on immigration, as they see constituents who voted red in 2024 grow concerned about the arrests of their loved ones or neighbors.
Who Is Supporting the Bill?
Ramirez has so far been joined by three other Democrats as cosponsors on the bill:
- Rashida Tlaib of Michigan
- Adelita Grijalva of Arizona
- Jim McGovern of Massachusetts
The legislation is also supported by a number of immigrant rights advocacy groups and progressive advocacy organizations, including National Nurses United, Indivisible Chicago Alliance, Center for Constitutional Rights, Defending Rights & Dissent, Bend the Arc, and U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action.
Regardless of whether the bill advances legislatively, it is likely to generate debate over immigration and border security as parties battle for control of Congress in November.
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Gray R. Thomas