On March 23, students and community members gathered for the CSFE’s fourth campus-wide debate/discussion of the year to debate whether the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, or ICE, should be abolished. Participants who were against the abolition of ICE noted that it plays an important role in vetting those who want to enter the country. ICE is a line of protection from those who want to harm those who are legally in the country. Some noted that ICE enforces customs rules and regulations.
Many who supported the resolution and would support the abolition of ICE noted that some of ICE’s duties could be assigned to other agencies, such as the Department of Justice. Speakers noted that ICE’s activities, particularly how it has treated many US citizens, border on tyranny. Other speakers thought that the abolition of ICE did not go far enough. They suggested that the Homeland Security Agency should be given much less authority. A few wanted to defund the Homeland Security Agency.
Facilitating a debate on such charged topics requires an excellent team of Barnes Debate Fellows. Ashlyn Hannon was our outstanding chair. She ensured that audience members respectfully listened to every speaker and that audience members were given ample opportunity and time to ask questions of each speaker. Lazarus White and Tryston Weiss encouraged audience members to present their ideas about ICE and ways to move forward. The CSFE also thanks Mae Rum, Melanie Lewis, Whitney McCall, and Brynne Murphy for making the event a success. The debate was cosponsored by Braver Angels, Bridge USA, and the College Debates and Discourse Alliance with support from the Barnes Family Foundation.
