Obama’s ‘Deporter-in-Chief’ label revived in recent weeks, angering Dems

President Obama endured the “Deporter-in-Chief” label for months, only shedding it in 2014 when he used executive action to stop the removal of otherwise law-abiding immigrants in the U.S. illegally.

Then, over the recent holiday season, deportations began again. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents specifically targeted parents and children who had arrived from Central America in weekend raids, reigniting anger at the White House from within his own party.

The swift action, which caught many Democrats off-guard, now threatens to blur what had been a stark contrast between the party and leading Republican presidential candidates, including Donald Trump, who proposed tough ways to keep migrants out.

Obama administration officials have said they are stepping up the removal of those who had already been given deportation orders.

All three Democratic presidential candidates have distanced themselves from the White House action. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is demanding an audience with Obama.

Democrats on Capitol Hill conveyed their anger during a private session hosted by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and administration officials this week in the Capitol. One leading lawmaker, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), held a protest Friday outside the White House.

“We’re upset,” said Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, in an interview. “I don’t know who was advising that this was a smart move to make at the holidays. … Parents are keeping kids home from school, many are not going to work or are afraid to even leave the house to buy groceries. They’re literally tearing apart families.”

The administration, though, has made it clear there will be no immediate slowdown of the operation that resulted in the apprehension of 121 adults and children over last weekend.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson acknowledged “the reality of the pain” the removals cause families. But he framed the operation as part of a broader strategy, announced with Obama’s executive action in 2014, to prevent another surge of unaccompanied migrant children from Central America.

In the summer of 2014, an unprecedented 68,000 unaccompanied minors from mostly Central American countries showed up at the Southern border, overwhelming authorities. The new raids are specifically targeting parents and children who arrived that year. Already, twice as many families illegally crossed the Southern border with Mexico last fall, setting off worries of a new spike in 2016.

“This should come as no surprise,” Johnson said in a lengthy statement this week. “I have said publicly for months that individuals who constitute enforcement priorities, including families and unaccompanied children, will be removed.”

The tough move, though, threatens to erode the goodwill that Obama’s executive actions created among the Latino and immigrant community after years of rising deportations under the administration.

Many Democrats view the Central Americans not as immigrants, but refugees, fleeing violence in Honduras and, more recently El Salvador, where gang violence has flared. The two countries have rivaled for having the world’s highest murder rate.

Democrats have also criticized the family detention facilities along the border that serve as holding facilities while migrants await hearings or deportation as unsuitable for children.

Hillary Clinton “believes the United States should give refuge to people fleeing persecution, and should be especially attentive to the needs of children,” said spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa. “She believes we should not be conducting large-scale raids and roundups that sow fear and division in our communities.”

In a letter to Obama on Thursday, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont said was “extremely disappointed” in the action and urged the president to provide temporary protection to the migrants.

“These raids contravene President Obama’s directive to ‘more humanely’ enforce our nation’s immigration laws,” Sanders wrote.

As part of its broader strategy, Homeland Security has beefed up Border Patrol operations and cracked down on smuggling and trafficking rings; Congress approved $750 million in aid to the Central American nations as part of the year-end budget deal to improve the underlying problems of poverty and public safety that cause many families to flee.

While many of the raids have been underway in southeastern states, California’s lawmakers have taken a particular interest in the issue. Some have reported fears have led families to keep their children home from school.

Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Calif.), an immigrant and the first Guatemalan American elected to Congress, at a Friday news conference urged restraint and a focus on deporting criminals.

For the latest from Congress and 2016 campaign follow @LisaMascaro