Democrats rallying call for 2020: ‘Abolish ICE’

Democrats considering a presidential run in 2020 are joining the calls to overhaul U.S. immigration enforcement – and some of them are even echoing activists’ calls to ‘abolish ICE.’

That’s the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency that was created after the 9/11 attacks.

New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand says it should be scrapped. California Sen. Kamala Harris says “maybe” the government should look at a new model.

Other leading Democrats say the focus should be on President Donald Trump’s policies and not the government’s organizational chart.

The issue could be complicated for Democrats. The party must deal with its liberal and ethnically diverse base, which will shape the presidential nominating fight.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says he also agrees with protesters and fellow Democratic politicians who are calling for the abolition of the federal government’s chief immigration enforcement agency.

De Blasio said on WNYC radio Friday that ICE “has become a punitive, negative tool for division” and should be replaced with something else.

About 100 protesters chanted “Abolish ICE!” as they marched through lower Manhattan on Friday.

Protester Suzanne Rust said she was shocked that migrant families have been separated trying to cross the border from Mexico.

Rust said she was “just fed up” and wanted to protest “what’s happening in this country.”