Rep. Delia Ramirez Introduces Bill to Dismantle Homeland Security

The bill arrives at a volatile political moment, surfacing just one day after DHS agents raided the home of Rep. Ilhan Omar. Ramirez characterizes the investigation into Omar’s citizenship documents as a clear act of political persecution, citing the administration’s history of targeting dissenters. She argues that the DHS is not a rogue entity, but rather a structure functioning as designed to target vulnerable populations, including immigrants, Muslim Americans, and protesters.

Under the proposed legislation, the Department of Community Safety would absorb essential functions like FEMA, while immigration enforcement would shift to the Department of Justice. The plan also seeks to curtail expansive powers granted during the War on Terror, including the controversial no-fly lists and the secretary of state’s authority to unilaterally designate foreign terrorist organizations. Ramirez points to the recent shooting of Oscar Belgal by an ICE agent and the 58 reported deaths in immigration custody since January 2025 as urgent indicators that the current system is fundamentally broken.

Public sentiment appears to be shifting alongside these legislative efforts. A July YouGov poll indicates that 48% of voters support abolishing ICE, while a February survey by the Public Religion Institute found that 60% of respondents oppose increasing the agency's budget. Proponents of the bill, including advocate Viviana Baraja, acknowledge the proposal’s radical nature but argue that the current political climate necessitates an equally ambitious vision for systemic change.