By John Q. Hosedrinker 
A recent poll from The Economist and YouGov reveals a shift in public opinion, with 46% of Americans now supporting the abolition of ICE. The survey also indicates that a majority of Americans believe ICE makes them less safe. This change in sentiment has arrived despite warnings from centrist groups cautioning against dismantling ICE, as the agency’s actions, and the concerns surrounding its accountability, have heightened public concern. The core argument for abolishing ICE centers on its threat to American democracy due to its lack of oversight and potential for political weaponization. Therefore, the dismantling of ICE is now viewed as a necessary step to protect democracy.
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Mussolini had his Blackshirts, Hitler has the SS, and Trump has ICE. The very existence of this profoundly unaccountable, overtly fascist military apparatus poses a structural danger to our democracy. This is why “Abolish ICE” is an extremely moderate position.
The parallels are unsettling, aren’t they? The historical echoes are there: a paramilitary force operating with little oversight, fueled by a specific ideology, and used to target and terrorize a defined group. While the scale and scope may differ, the fundamental nature of the threat remains. It’s a tool of political control and repression, plain and simple. ICE, in its current form, is a symptom of a larger, more insidious disease infecting our democratic institutions.
It’s tempting to downplay the comparisons, to say “it’s not the same,” and that’s understandable. The SS were a brutal force, and the horrors they inflicted are etched in history. But the gradual erosion of democratic norms doesn’t announce itself with a thunderclap. It’s a slow creep, a chipping away at the foundations. ICE, as it currently functions, is part of that erosion. Its actions, the lack of accountability, the targeting of vulnerable populations, all point towards a dangerous trajectory.
The argument that “Abolish ICE” is an extreme position, however, misses the mark. It’s not about radicalism; it’s about recognizing a very real threat and taking steps to mitigate it. In many ways, advocating for its abolition is a conservative position. It’s about upholding the rule of law, ensuring accountability, and preserving the basic principles of a just society. It’s a return to first principles.
We see a deep concern in the actions of ICE, similar to the actions of the Brownshirts, with elements of the SS. These groups were tools of political control. The actions of ICE and the rhetoric surrounding them are alarming. We should recognize the parallels and take decisive action. If ICE operates without accountability, without proper oversight, then it’s a direct threat to the very foundations of our democracy.
The reality is, as we are witnessing, ICE is not alone in its actions. The idea of “good guys” and “bad guys” is fading and becoming very complicated. Many people have their heads in the sand. But for some, the reality is clear. The question is, what are we going to do about it?
The time to act is now. The longer we wait, the more entrenched this apparatus becomes. The more normalized this behavior gets. The more difficult it will be to dismantle. There is no time to waste, we need to take action.