Seeking to put distance between himself and President Obama, Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Bernard Sanders fired off a letter Thursday demanding the administration halt its new round of raids designed to find and deport illegal immigrants who are ignoring judges’ orders that they leave the country.

Mr. Sanders, a Vermont independent who is running as a Democrat, urged Mr. Obama and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to declare Central America so unsafe that people from that region are allowed to stay and work in the U.S. — a policy known as temporary protected status.

“I urge you to immediately end these raids and not deport families back to countries where a death sentence awaits,” Mr. Sanders wrote.

The raids, which netted 121 illegal immigrant parents and children who’ve were flouting judges’ deportation orders, have proved to be a political land mine for the administration.

Mr. Sanders and fellow Democratic presidential candidate Martin O’Malley have vehemently denounced the raids, while former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been more muted, expressing concerns but not criticizing Mr. Obama or immigration officials.

Immigrant-rights advocates have said Mrs. Clinton will need to be more vocal if she wants to rally Latino voters.

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