Democrats Accused Of Weaponizing DHS
Former Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf is warning that Democrats are using the latest Senate funding battle as a political weapon aimed at weakening Immigration and Customs Enforcement, following a failed procedural vote tied to Department of Homeland Security spending.
Speaking on Carl Higbie FRONTLINE on Newsmax, Wolf said Democrats are demanding what they call “significant reforms” at ICE—but argued those demands are really about limiting enforcement and reducing the agency’s ability to operate effectively.
According to Wolf, threatening a partial government shutdown over ICE policy is a dangerous move that puts politics ahead of public safety. He said the real objective is not reform, but restriction—making it harder for federal officers to enforce immigration law.
Wolf, now chair of the Center for Homeland Security at the America First Policy Institute, emphasized that cooperation between Immigration and Customs Enforcement and state and local law enforcement is essential for safe and orderly communities. When agencies work together, he said, operations are more controlled and less risky for both officers and the public.
By contrast, Wolf warned that sanctuary policies block cooperation and create confusion on the ground. He argued that anti-ICE rhetoric from elected officials encourages disorder, making enforcement operations more dangerous and unpredictable.
Wolf accused Democrat-led jurisdictions of creating instability through sanctuary policies and then using that instability as justification to further restrict ICE authority. He cautioned Republicans against giving in to what he described as a calculated strategy during budget negotiations.
The former DHS official also pointed to Tim Walz, arguing that the Minnesota governor’s policies and public messaging have contributed to heightened tensions involving ICE officers, particularly in Minneapolis.
Wolf noted that ICE conducts millions of operations each year across all 50 states. When problems arise, he said, they are often concentrated in jurisdictions where political leaders openly oppose federal immigration enforcement.
In closing, Wolf said the issue is straightforward: cooperation leads to stability, while resistance leads to chaos. When local governments work with ICE, he argued, communities are safer and law enforcement officers are better protected.
