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Primary candidates call for pathways to citizenship and many urge abolishing ICE
Summary
During the Hartford debate, all four Democratic candidates discussed immigration reform; several advocated immediate citizenship for Dreamers and broader legal paths, and multiple speakers — including Luke Bronin, Ruth Fortune and Jillian Gilchrist — called for abolishing ICE.
Immigration was a central theme at the debate. Luke Bronin praised the Hartford Public Library’s "American Place" as a model and called for "abolish[ing] ICE," immediate citizenship for Dreamers and wider legal immigration pathways; he said asylum processing needs more judges and resources. Ruth Fortune described living as an undocumented child and likewise said "we have to put an end" to ICE's practices and provide legal pathways for those who have worked and lived here.
Jillian Gilchrist echoed calls to abolish ICE and pointed to state‑level expansions of health care access for undocumented residents; John Larson supported bipartisan bills authored by Sen. Chris Murphy and Rep. Linda Sanchez while also saying he voted to abolish ICE in 2002. The candidates presented both structural reforms (legislation supported by incumbents) and more sweeping proposals (abolishing ICE) as routes to comprehensive immigration reform.
