BREAKING, READ: Arizona Reps. Sinema and O'Halleran Vote With Republicans In Rebuking "Abolish ICE" Movement

Arizona Representatives Kyrsten Sinema (D-CD9) and Tom O'Halleran (D-CD1) joined with nearly all of their Republican colleagues in passing a resolution denouncing the "Abolish ICE" movement and supporting all "who bring law and order to our Nation's borders."

The resolution - co-sponsored by Arizona GOP Reps. Paul Gosar (CD4), Andy Biggs (CD5) and Martha McSally (CD2) - passed by a 244-35 margin. Most Democrats (133) voted "present", and only 1 Republican opposed it (Amash).

Both Sinema and McSally are running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Jeff Flake (R-AZ). The cry to "Abolish ICE" has
risen recently among some Democrats opposed to the Administration's policy to separate and detain families at the U.S./Mexico border while deportation and/or asylum proceedings are taking place. Sinema has suggested that major reforms of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency are warranted, but has not joined the call to abolish.

O'Halleran represents a closely-divided CD1, and has also often voted against the prevailing party position.

McSally tweeted her support of the symbolic resolution this afternoon, rattling off ICE drug and gang stats.

Today, House Republicans voted to #StandWithIce. @ICEgov agents combat terrorism, human trafficking, drug smuggling and gang activity. Last year alone, ICE arrested 4,818 transnational gang members and seized over 980,000 pounds of narcotics. ICE is critical to American safety. pic.twitter.com/MWnt7OKN1r

— Martha McSally (@RepMcSally) July 18, 2018

Sinema has not commented publicly on her vote.

In fact, while the "action" portion of the resolution is simply denouncing the "Abolish ICE" call and supporting ICE personnel and others enforcing laws on the border, the "whereas" clauses are full of stats and comments noting that eliminating the agency would allow all of the drugs, terrorists and people here illegally to remain in the country - as if there would be a complete halt to any enforcement of laws.

   Text of anti-Abolish ICE House of Representatives resolution by arizonaspolitics on Scribd

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