Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) dropped a bombshell on MSNBC’s All In Wednesday, demanding Congress slash all funding for ICE and impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem—yes, the same Noem who’s been a staunch 2A defender as South Dakota’s former governor. Markey’s rant frames ICE as some rogue enforcer of Trump’s cruelty, tying it to border chaos while conveniently ignoring the agency’s role in everything from human trafficking busts to seizing illegal firearms smuggled across the southern border. This isn’t just anti-enforcement theater; it’s a direct shot at the mechanisms that keep dangerous weapons out of cartel hands and off our streets, all while Noem’s DHS pushes back against Biden-era open-border policies that have flooded communities with unvetted migrants, some packing heat from unchecked smuggling routes.
For the 2A community, Markey’s outburst is a flashing red warning light. ICE isn’t just about deportations—it’s a frontline player in ATF collaborations, nabbing over 1,000 illegal guns in fiscal 2023 alone through operations like Community Shield. Defund ICE? That’s code for hamstringing federal efforts to disrupt gun trafficking networks that arm criminals who make lawful carriers look bad in the eyes of gun-grabbers. Noem, with her unapologetic pro-gun record—like signing constitutional carry into law—represents the exact kind of leadership the left wants purged. Impeaching her over enforcing immigration law sets a precedent: punish officials who prioritize security, paving the way for softer borders and more excuses to demonize responsible gun owners as the real threat.
The implications ripple far beyond Massachusetts liberals’ echo chamber. With midterms looming and border encounters hitting record highs (over 2.4 million in FY2023), Markey’s call energizes 2A advocates to rally behind figures like Noem who link secure borders to secure rights. A weakened ICE means more illegal arms in play, bolstering anti-2A narratives that we need more gun control, not walls. Patriots, take note: this is why we fight for funding the enforcers, not the defunders. Stand with Noem, fund ICE, and keep America armed and sovereign.
