Rally Speaker Calls For Ending ICE

Malik Williams, a Democratic candidate for the Texas legislature, declared the end of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to a crowd in Lubbock on Tuesday. The statement marked a sharp break from the position held by the state's U.S. Senate nominee, James Talarico, who was the main speaker at the event. Williams used his warmup slot to outline a series of progressive policy goals before handing the microphone to Talarico.

"We're gonna abolish ICE, we're gonna tax the rich and we're going to get my friend, the next United States Senator from the state of Texas, James Talarico, elected!" Williams told the audience, which responded with loud applause. He also advocated for the legalization and taxation of cannabis. These remarks positioned him firmly with the rising wing of the Democratic Party that favors more radical structural changes.

Talarico, a Democrat running in a historically Republican state, has recently moved to distance himself from the call to dismantle the agency. During a joint town hall with CNN and Jubilee, the nominee addressed the question directly. "No, and I never have," he said regarding support for abolishing ICE. He argued that the country still needs the agency, though not in its current form. He described the past year of operations as resembling a "secret police force," a label he said Americans do not want in the country.

This recent caution contrasts with statements Talarico made earlier in the year. During a January primary debate against Rep. Jasmine Crockett, he said it was time to "tear down" ICE. At that time, he cited specific incidents, including claims that agents shot a mother in the face, kidnapped a five-year-old boy, and executed a man on a street. He proposed replacing the agency with a new body focused on public safety and called for agents to testify before Congress about their enforcement actions.

Williams's speech on Tuesday extended beyond immigration policy. He criticized President Donald Trump and Talarico's Republican opponent, Ken Paxton, using strong language. "When we have embarrassing loser representatives that support a fascist, racist, rapist, war criminal, I say we deserve better!" he said. He also argued that ranchers and farmers do not want data centers built on their land without consent, a point that drew cheers from the crowd.

The speaker further promoted several other policies aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America. These included increased funding for public education, guaranteed childcare, and an expansion of healthcare access. The Talarico, Williams, and Paxton campaigns did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the disparity in messaging at the rally.

Public opinion on the agency remains divided. A July poll by YouGov and The Economist found that 48% of Americans support abolishing ICE, while 67% of Republicans strongly oppose the idea. In Texas specifically, a February survey by The Texas Politics Project showed that 42% of voters view the agency favorably, compared with 47% who view it unfavorably.