Democrats hoping for the chance to unseat Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in New York’s battleground 17th Congressional District made their radical positions on immigration enforcement crystal clear at a candidate forum this week.
In video footage from the Westchester County Democratic Committee’s pre-primary debate on Thursday, at Manhattanville College, a moderator asked the candidates, “Abolish, reform, or keep ICE?”
The responses from three leading contenders left little doubt about their desire to see the agency keeping Americans safe destroyed.
Beth Davidson, the Rockland County legislator who leads early polling in the Democratic primary, responded first.
“Go back to the drawing board,” Davidson said. “We need a system that is humane and streamlined that keeps people safe and allows everyone who plays by the rules a full path to citizenship.”
Effie Phillips-Staley, a progressive Tarrytown Village Trustee and self-described “unapologetic progressive,” was blunter.
“Abolish ICE!” she declared.
Phillips-Staley has made abolishing the agency a centerpiece of her campaign.
On her official website, Phillips-Staley lists “abolishing ICE” among her priorities and published a press release in January titled “A New Vision for a Civil Immigration System,” calling for demilitarizing immigration enforcement and treating it as a civil administrative matter rather than a “paramilitary” operation.
Cait Conley, an Army combat veteran and former election security official from Ossining, framed ICE agents as the problem.
“Everyone will be held accountable,” she said, describing federal agents on American streets who “assault, harass, and kill people sworn to serve.”
Conley’s campaign site states she will fight to “rein in ICE” as part of opposing what she calls the Trump administration’s “unlawful and authoritarian agenda.”
WATCH:
MODERATOR: Abolish, form, or keep ICE?
Beth Davidson: “Go back to the drawing board.”
Effie Phillips-Staley: “Abolish ICE!”
Cait Conley: “Everyone will be held accountable.”
The Democrats running for New York’s 17th congressional district want to end immigration enforcement. pic.twitter.com/e9o43mEgx2
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) April 10, 2026
New York’s 17th District, which includes parts of Rockland, Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties, is a battleground seat.
The Democrat primary is scheduled for June 23.
Davidson currently leads the crowded field in fundraising and name recognition, according to recent polls reported by Politico and Patch.
The district has been a top target for national Democrats hoping to flip the House in the midterms.
Lawler has consistently supported strong border security and interior enforcement measures.
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