San Antonio Rep. Henry Cuellar among Dems who signed ‘gratitude to ICE’ resolution

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, whose South Texas district includes part of San Antonio, is one of 75 House Democrats who crossed the aisle Monday to sign a resolution expressing “gratitude to ICE.”

The Republican-backed House Resolution 488 expressed thanks to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement even as the agency draws criticism for arresting undocumented migrants outside immigration courts and on worksites. Vicente Gonzalez Jr., a South Texas Democrat whose district includes Brownsville, also signed.

Cuellar is one of the most conservative members of the House Democratic caucus, and critics allege that he’s increasingly tried to position himself with the Trump administration as he faces federal bribery and corruption charges over his relationship with the government of Azerbaijan.

The resolution also included a statement denouncing an “antisemitic terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado” after Mohamed Sabry Solimon allegedly attacked an anti-Palestine protest in May. Solimon now faces 118 criminal charges.

HR 488’s effusive love letter to ICE “affirms that free and open communication between state and local law enforcement and their federal counterparts remains the bedrock of public safety and is necessary in preventing terrorist attacks; and expresses gratitude to law enforcement officers, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel, for protecting the homeland.”
The measure was introduced by U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, a Colorado Republican who serves on the Homeland Security Committee, where he frequently champions border security. Of 212 Democrats in the House, 113 voted against it while a handful more voted “present.”

The largely symbolic measure was undertaken under a House procedure known as a “suspension of rules,” which is typically used for “non-controversial” bills. Under a suspension of rules, a measure requires a two-thirds majority to pass, which the resolution achieved to pass, thanks to Cuellar and the 74 other Dems.

Subscribe to SA Current newsletters.

Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter| Or sign up for our RSS Feed

This article appears in May 29 – Jun 11, 2025.