CD 5 candidate Rachel Grage calls for ICE to be ‘dismantled,’ says agents are ‘unqualified, bloodthirsty’

Rachel Grage, a Democratic candidate for Florida’s 5th Congressional District, wants to “dismantle” Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), calling ICE agents “unqualified” and “bloodthirsty.”

Her comments came during an appearance on First Coast Connect, WJCT 89.9’s weekday public affairs program. The remarks go further than her campaign website, which says Grage wants to “ensure America’s borders are secure through smart, efficient enforcement, while maintaining a fair and humane immigration system that respects due process.”

Grage acknowledged the need to have some kind of federal immigration enforcement, but argued that ICE is tarnished beyond repair.

“It’s another scourge on our American name, it’s embarrassing us on the world stage,” Grage told host Anne Schindler.

Grage alluded to a July 14 incident in St. Augustine in which a Mexican man on a tourist visa was struck and killed crossing a busy roadway as he fled federal immigration officers.

Grage is seeking to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, who was first elected to Congress in 2017. CD 5 includes St. Johns County and half of Duval County.

Other Democratic candidates in the race include 29-year-old software developer Alexander Hazen and self-described “pragmatic Democrat” Mark Heggstad.

Hazen has also supported abolishing ICE, calling on the agency’s funding to instead be put toward immigration reform.

Grage has a commanding fundraising lead over her Primary opponents, raising $247,000 through June 30. Heggstad has brought in $19,500 and Hazen has raised $12,000.

Meanwhile, Rutherford has raised over $700,000. He faces a Primary challenge from conservative podcaster and local talk radio host Mark Kaye, who has raised $28,000.

Rutherford, who spent 12 years as Duval County Sheriff, won re-election in 2024 with 63% of the vote, meaning the eventual Democratic nominee will face an uphill battle to win the seat.