Staff Reports
The Democratic National Committee quietly handed its activists a win at its summer meeting when it approved a resolutions package that included a call to abolish ICE. Republican strategist and CNN political commentator Scott Jennings quickly pointed out what should be obvious: this isn’t just an internal memo. It’s a signal to primary voters and to every Democrat who hopes to run for president in 2028. In plain English: Democrats are giving their candidates a choice—embrace the abolition agenda or get left behind in the primary.
What the DNC actually did — and what it didn’t
The resolutions committee advanced a measure urging Congress to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and to wind down the immigration detention system. That measure was sponsored by a DNC committeewoman from Louisiana. At the same meeting, the party also approved a separate resolution calling for concrete reforms of ICE. Translation: the DNC approved dueling messages on immigration. One says “start over,” the other says “fix it.” Neither move changes federal law. The party platform still has to be written by delegates at the convention. But as any operative knows, resolutions are how you tell activists, donors and candidates which way the wind is blowing.
How this will shape the 2028 Democratic primary
Scott Jennings was blunt: the DNC’s vote will force primary candidates to answer for abolition. He’s right. Primary voters reward bold, loud positions. If activist groups cheer “abolish ICE,” candidates will race to out-left one another to win the nomination. That’s the mechanics of modern primaries: signal to the base, then try to pivot to the center for the general. The problem is the pivot doesn’t always stick. Voters in swing states remember the platform and the headlines. Republicans should enjoy the spectacle of Democrats trying to sell open-border messaging to moderates who actually vote.
Why voters should care — and why Republicans should make noise
Abolishing ICE is not a dry policy debate. The resolutions packet calls for winding down detention, limiting Department of Homeland Security funding, and curbing enforcement actions such as workplace raids. Those are real choices with real consequences for public safety and border control. Democrats who cheer this on promise a very different approach to immigration enforcement—one that will be front and center in 2028. Republicans should spotlight that contrast. Voters who want secure borders and rule of law deserve to know exactly who supports them and who doesn’t.
Call this what it is: messaging theater with teeth. It isn’t law, but it is a map of where the party’s activists want to go. If Democrats force candidates to run on abolition, they’ll energize their left flank—and hand Republicans a simple, effective attack line for the general election. Let the primary circus begin. Republicans should bring the popcorn and the policy charts.
