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Dems blast Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials ahead of possible weekend raids

By Casey Junkins - City Editor | Jul 12, 2019

NASHUA – In an effort to distinguish themselves from their competitors in the massive presidential primary field, several Democratic candidates took to Twitter on Thursday to blast President Donald Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

The contenders also offered advice to their followers in preparation for this weekend’s anticipated ICE roundup of undocumented immigrants.

“The Trump administration’s cruelty runs bone-deep. A Warren administration will not rip families apart to try and score political points,” Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts tweeted.

“President Trump has weaponized deportation in ways that are costly, ineffective, and designed to maximize pain. It’s time to end this cruelty,” Warren added.

According to the Associated Press, two Trump administration officials and immigrant activists believe the ICE raids are set to take place this weekend.The operation would target people with final orders of removal, including families whose immigration cases had been fast-tracked by judges in 10 major cities.

The agency said in a statement that it would not discuss specifics about enforcement operations.

“As always, ICE prioritizes the arrest and removal of unlawfully present aliens who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security,” according to the statement.

Nevertheless, Democratic presidential candidates are condemning ICE and Trump for the planned enforcement action.

“These reports of mass ICE raids are extremely disturbing. Targeting families does not make us safer,” California’s Kamala Harris tweeted.

“Rounding up immigrants, and potentially entire families, is despicable and an assault on our nation’s values. Know your rights,” she added.

Beto O’Rourke of Texas is scheduled to host a town hall-style meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday at Nashua Unitarian Universalist Church, 58 Lowell St. The specific topic of this is listed as immigration.

“We need everyone to spread the word. If you need help during #ICERaids this weekend, here’s who to call in cities across the country,” O’Rourke tweeted before making a connection to the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

“There is no bottom to this administration’s moral vandalism. Terrorizing families like this doesn’t make us safer. This is wrong,” Cory Booker of New Jersey tweeted.

“No human is illegal – no matter what Donald Trump says,” Booker added.

“I am not going to make policy out of fear. I’m going to make policy for the people who need a voice now,” Julian Castro of Texas tweeted.

Former Vice President Joe Biden of Delaware on Thursday delivered a speech on foreign policy. Later, he tweeted about Trump.

“The threat Donald Trump poses to our national security, and to who we are as a country, is so extreme we cannot afford to ignore it. His erratic policies and failures to uphold basic democratic principles have muddied our reputation and our place in the world,” Biden stated via Twitter.

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