LAREDO, Texas — U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar says he still opposes calls to abolish or defund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), even in the wake of recent high-profile shootings involving agents in Maine and Houston.
However, the Laredo Democrat and ranking member of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee insists the federal law enforcement agency must immediately revert to pre-2025 standards regarding agent training, de-escalation protocols, and mandatory equipment.
Speaking in a recent interview, Cuellar drew a sharp line between his position and that of fellow Texas Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro, who recently renewed calls to disband ICE during the current session of Congress.
"I don't believe in the abolishment of ICE. I don't believe in defunding ICE," Cuellar said, framing the issue as one of reform and operational focus rather than elimination. "I think it's wrong to call for defunding of police. What we need to do is to make sure that we focus. ICE should be focused on criminals, not families."
A central point of concern for Cuellar is the deployment of body-worn cameras and dash cameras across ICE operations. Despite $20 million previously appropriated for body cameras, reports indicate only about half of field agents are currently equipped.
Cuellar pushed back against arguments that funding constraints are delaying the rollout, pointing to massive funding influxes provided to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) outside regular appropriations, such as through the Big Beautiful Bill.
"They have the money. The money is not an issue," Cuellar said. "It's a matter of getting it done. They have to put out those bids. They got to move on that."
Beyond equipment, Cuellar expressed deep concern over changes made to agent training and background checks since January 2025. He argued that previous protocols emphasizing de-escalation and specific rules of engagement—including warrant requirements for residential entries—were set aside by House Republicans and current leadership.
"All of that was in place before January 2025, but they set everything aside, and we need to get back to the training, the de-escalation, the confrontation protocols," Cuellar noted.
Cuellar also revealed that while ranking members receive automated notifications when an individual dies in ICE custody, those notifications currently do not automatically include agent-involved shootings that occur during field operations. He is actively pushing to expand notification mandates across all DHS components—including ICE, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Coast Guard, and the Secret Service.
"Anytime there's a death involving an ICE agent or DHS... we want to get notifications," Cuellar said, referencing the recent fatal incidents in Maine and Houston.
During recent House Homeland Security Appropriations Committee markups, Cuellar attempted to insert stricter oversight language, mandatory de-escalation training, and increased funding for vehicle and body cameras into the funding bill. While some minor oversight measures passed, he noted that the Republican majority rejected the bulk of his proposed guardrails.
Despite the current legislative gridlock, Cuellar remains focused on year-end budget negotiations and the upcoming midterm elections to gain leverage.
"Right now, Democrats don't control [the committee]. I'm a ranking member, not a chairman," Cuellar said. "But I would tell you that at the end of the year, we're going to get together... and I'm hoping to add more protections, more guardrails on ICE than what they have right now."
