A Democratic candidate running to be New York’s attorney general pledged Wednesday to prosecute the Immigration Customs Enforcement Agency if elected.

Zephyr Teachout touted the platform of the “Abolish ICE” movement and promised to prosecute the agency, according to a NowThis report.

“ICE was born in the time after 9/11, and has grown up to become a tool of fear and illegality,” she said, “And as attorney general, I will continue to speak out against ICE. I will prosecute ICE for their criminal acts.”

Ms. Teachout took fault with labeling any person illegal and seeing immigrants as a national security threat. She said that it “just doesn’t make sense” that ICE is a part of the Department for Homeland Security, which she argued is “the area where the president has the most authority.”

Acting Director of ICE Ronald Vitiello responded to Ms. Teachout’s video on Thursday during an interview on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends.”

“ICE was created in the aftermath of 9/11 to protect us all,” Mr. Vitiello said, “ICE enforces the law that Congress gives us and the president signs. That’s how our system works.”

Acting ICE Dir. Ronald Vitiello: “ICE was designed in the aftermath of 9/11 to protect us all. That’s what the agents and the officers of ICE, and our attorneys and our mission support people, they’re out there every day protecting this country.” @foxandfriends pic.twitter.com/wmYTx9A4tI

— Brian Kilmeade (@kilmeade) August 2, 2018

Ms. Teachout is the third New York candidate to embrace the “Abolish ICE” movement on the campaign trail. House candidate democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon have both made the progressive demand part of their platforms.

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