U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, who has been among the strongest supporters of President Barack Obama's actions to shield millions of unauthorized immigrants from deportation, criticized the administration Wednesday for a series of raids against Central American migrants.

Menendez (D-N.J.) said the Homeland Security Department should not be trying to remove Central American immigrants who were fleeing violence in their home countries.

"These raids illustrate the many painful aspects of a system that has failed, including harsh tactics facing undocumented mothers and children whose only mistake was to escape a certain death in their native countries," Menendez said. "We must recognize that these families are fleeing escalating violence and address the root causes of this humanitarian crisis."

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