De Blasio says Biden ‘absolutely’ has to answer for Obama-era ICE deportations

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Sunday that fellow Democratic White House hopeful Joe Biden should “absolutely” answer for the deportation of undocumented immigrants during the Obama administration. 

“Let’s be honest, I think there’s a lot of issues where Democrats and Republicans, unfortunately, have some responsibility for the problems,” de Blasio told CNN’s Jake Tapper Sunday on “State of the Union.” 

“That was a  mistake, in the end what we needed a very different approach,” he added. {mosads}

De Blasio also said that President Trump’s plan to deport undocumented immigrants in mass U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids are an attempt to further “divide Americans.” 

Trump has said the raids will begin Sunday. 

But while criticizing Trump’s approach to the issue, de Blasio said the Obama administration, and therefore Biden, who served as vice president, has to answer for its approach to undocumented immigration. 

When asked by Tapper if Biden should answer for the rates of deportation under the Obama administration, de Blasio said “absolutely.”

“Democrats often been scared of their own shadows,” de Blasio said, adding that too often members of his party listen to “attacks on Fox News.” 

He said Democrats have made mistakes and will have to face a “moment of truth” to “decide who we are.” 

–This report was updated at 9:56 a.m.