Republicans scored a political victory in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, after the House voted 244-35 to give its official support to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the vote aimed to force Democrats to choose a stance as progressives try to have the agency abolished.
But, Democrats avoided choosing a position and tried to have the debate over immigration refocused away from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and back toward the controversial separation of immigrant parents and children on the southern border, and the Trump administration’s asylum claim policies. The split is the most recent sign of the way in which immigration has become one of the most partisan issues of this year’s midterm elections.
Republicans made it clear that they intended to vote on the resolution, which is non-binding, to show support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement as a political maneuver, and prove that progressives, such as Senators Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren are pushing the Democratic Party even further to the left and have called for the agency to be abolished. Republican leaders, such as Majority Whip Steve Scalise, wanted Democrats in the House of Representatives to make clear their views to show the party split to midterm voters.
Scalise says that Republicans stand up for the agency and its agents, and wants to protect it and them while Democrats want to get rid of the people keeping the nation safe and that the issue shows what is at stake in November. But, Democrats refused to take the bait.