Ryan Nicol
David Richardson, a Democrat running for Florida’s 27th Congressional District, is out with a Spanish-language TV ad hitting one of the more controversial topics this campaign season: Abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Richardson calls for the end of the organization in the ad, titled “ICE,” arguing it’s done more harm than good.
A statement from the Richardson campaign released along with the ad says ICE is responsible for “abusing detainees, dividing families, and harassing Dreamers.”
In the ad, filmed in front of ICE headquarters, Richardson proposes diverting ICE’s funding toward a nationwide Medicare-for-all program.
“I’m a courageous progressive, and that means I don’t shy away from an issue I’m passionate about when the Democratic establishment gets nervous,” said Richardson in a statement.
“I have the courage to promote all parts of my progressive platform, including abolishing ICE. We have big problems in this country, and voters are sick of the old guard in Washington selling out big solutions for feckless compromises time and time again. That will change with me.”
The issue of what to do with ICE in light of Donald Trump‘s controversial immigration policies has been a point of contention recently.
Several other Democrats have called for the end of ICE, including former Knight Foundation Program Director Matt Haggman and former University of Miami academic adviser Michael Hepburn, both of whom are competing with Richardson in CD 27.
Others aren’t so sure, including the remaining two Democrats in the CD 27 race, Miami Beach Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez and former University of Miami President Donna Shalala. In the Democrats’ most recent debate, they said they worry about putting thousands of employees out of work and instead say the aim of the agency should be redirected.
Moreover, President Trump has made Democrats’ calls to abolish ICE a campaign issue, meaning it could turn against Democrats in some districts if the issue motivates Republicans more than the liberal base.
Nevertheless, Richardson is moving full steam ahead with his calls to end the organization once and for all. You can watch his new Spanish-language ad below.
