HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TNND) — Democratic Senator John Fetterman is urging his party to resist trying to abolish I.C.E.

He said in a social media post on Thursday that Democrats have to avoid “destructive tendencies” like the “extreme” idea of eliminating the agency.

Some members of the party are divided on abolishing I.C.E., which has encountered protests over its killing of a Minnesota woman, and restricting the agency’s activities. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, for example, opposes eliminating the agency, an action some of his constituents support.

“Even Mayor Frey of Minneapolis doesn’t support abolishing ICE. The party must resist the destructive tendencies to push extreme positions,” Fetterman wrote on X.

“Secure the border. Deport all the criminals. Stop targeting the hardworking migrants in our nation.”

A Michigan Democratic congressman, Shri Thanedar, introduced legislation on Thursday to eliminate the agency. He said I.C.E. has always prioritized aggressive enforcement over due process.

“The killing of Renee Nicole Good proved that ICE is out of control and beyond reform,” he said in a statement. “We must fundamentally change the way we approach immigration: it’s time to abolish ICE.”

The bill is extremely unlikely to succeed in the Republican-controlled Congress, let alone be approved by President Donald Trump. His administration has been a staunch defender of I.C.E., including the officer who shot and killed Good.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Sunday that the agency has improved public safety by deporting people who are in the country illegally.

“President Trump promised the American people that he would make America safe again, that we would be out there enforcing the laws and that we would apply them equally, that nobody was above the law and that we were going to start putting American citizens first,” Noem said. “So, criminal, illegal aliens in this country are going to be brought to justice under his administration, and that’s exactly why we surged resources to Minnesota.”

Governor Tim Walz has rejected the administration’s rhetoric. He claimed in a video message on Wednesday that it is “raining down” chaos, disruption and trauma on Minnesota communities.

“Donald Trump wants this chaos. He wants confusion. And, yes, he wants more violence on our streets,” Walz said. “We cannot give him what he wants. We can – we must – protest loudly, urgently, but also peacefully. Indeed, as hard as we will fight in the courts and at the ballot box, we cannot and will not let violence prevail.”

Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at rjlewis@sbgtv.com.