George Hornedo Calls on Rep. André Carson to Clearly State His Position on Abolishing ICE

After sustained public pressure, Carson gestures toward reform without outlining a framework; Hornedo releases detailed position and challenges incumbent to do the same.

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Tuesday, January 27

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Indianapolis, IN — Following a recent public comment by Rep. André Carson on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), congressional candidate George Hornedo today called on the incumbent to clearly articulate his position on abolishing ICE rather than offering vague language after public pressure.

 

Hornedo noted that Carson’s comment comes after sustained public pressure from Hornedo related to DHS funding, impeachment efforts, and ICE—part of a broader pattern in which the congressman has only taken action after public criticism and national media attention.

 

“Political pressure works,” Hornedo said. “But leadership shouldn’t require it.”

 

While Carson has now gestured toward “restructuring” ICE, Hornedo said the absence of a clear framework raises more questions than it answers.

 

“Saying ‘restructure’ without explaining what ends, what replaces it, and how accountability is enforced is not leadership,” Hornedo said. “It’s a hedge.”

 

Hornedo has been explicit in his position. ICE, as currently structured, should be abolished and replaced with narrowly scoped, accountable alternatives. His framework rests on three core principles:

 

• Accountability and Oversight — Violent crime, trafficking, and legitimate national-security threats should be handled by agencies with clear judicial oversight, strict use-of-force standards, and transparent reporting.

 

• Civilian Immigration Systems — Immigration processing, asylum, and work authorization should be civilian, service-oriented functions and not enforcement-first policing.

 

• Proper Institutional Placement — Labor enforcement and civil-rights protections belong with labor and civil-rights authorities, not immigration police.

 

Hornedo has also called for defunding and restructuring DHS to dismantle the over-centralization of immigration enforcement, domestic intelligence, disaster response, and surveillance authority under a single department with insufficient guardrails.

 

“This is not about eliminating public safety or emergency response,” Hornedo said. “It’s about dismantling unchecked power and rebuilding systems designed for proportionality, transparency, and constitutional limits.”

 

Hornedo emphasized that the core contrast in the race is not rhetoric, but leadership.

 

“Leadership means acting early, speaking clearly, and standing on principle,” he said. “It does not mean waiting for pressure, headlines, or permission.”

 

Hornedo called on Congressman Carson to publicly lay out his own framework for ICE and DHS reform.

 

“If we’re serious about accountability, voters deserve clarity,” Hornedo said. “Say what you mean. Explain the structure. Own the tradeoffs. That’s what leadership looks like.”