Rep. Hoyle Calls for ICE Abolition After Tacoma Detention Center Visit

Congresswoman says she won't vote for DHS budget until agency is reformed or eliminated

Jan. 29, 2026 at 8:31pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) visited the Northwest Immigration and Customs Enforcement Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, after some of her constituents were detained there. Hoyle said she heard heartbreaking stories from detainees and called for the abolition of ICE in its current form, vowing not to vote for any Department of Homeland Security budget until the agency is reformed or eliminated.

Why it matters

Hoyle's visit and subsequent calls for ICE reform highlight the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement and the treatment of undocumented immigrants in the United States. Her stance reflects growing political pressure to rethink the role and tactics of ICE, especially in the wake of concerns about overzealous deportation efforts targeting non-criminal immigrants.

The details

During her tour of the Tacoma detention center, Hoyle met with detainees and said she heard stories that were "hard to hear," with some immigrants in tears and fearful for their families. She argued that many of the detainees were not the "criminals" the Trump administration had vowed to remove, but rather immigrants who posed no threat and were contributing members of their communities. Hoyle said she voted against a budget bill that would boost DHS funding and pledged not to support any future DHS budgets until ICE is abolished or significantly reformed.

  • On January 29, 2026, Rep. Hoyle visited the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington.
  • On the same day, Hoyle met with the press to discuss her frustrations with ICE operations after the visit.

The players

Rep. Val Hoyle

A U.S. Representative from Oregon's 4th congressional district who visited the Tacoma ICE detention center and called for the abolition of ICE in its current form.

Kristi Noem

The current Secretary of Homeland Security, whom Rep. Hoyle says she will not vote for any DHS budget until she is removed from her position.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I think we can all agree, if you are an immigrant, and you are here, and you're not a citizen, and you commit a violent crime, yes that is cause for deportation. But that is not how ICE is being used. They're coming after and killing American Citizens. They're picking up Native Americans.”

— Rep. Val Hoyle, U.S. Representative

What’s next

Hoyle says she plans to follow up with lawyers for each of the detainees from her district to ensure she maintains direct access to them. She also vowed to continue pushing for the abolition or reform of ICE until changes are made.

The takeaway

Rep. Hoyle's visit and subsequent calls for ICE reform reflect the growing political pressure to rethink the agency's tactics and role in immigration enforcement, especially regarding the treatment of non-criminal undocumented immigrants. Her stance highlights the ongoing debate over balancing public safety and humane treatment of immigrant communities.