Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Harry Mason ReidThe Supreme Court vacancy — yet another congressional food fight Trump seeks to turn around campaign with Supreme Court fight On The Trail: Battle over Ginsburg replacement threatens to break Senate MORE (D-Nev.) said in an interview published Tuesday that decriminalizing border crossings "is not something that should be at the top of the list" for 2020 Democrats.

“There are so many more important things to do,” the Nevada Democrat told Vice News, saying that the decriminalization of crossing the border illegally “should be way, way down at the bottom of the list.”

He added: “People want a fair immigration system. They don’t want an open-door invitation for everybody to come at once.”

Immigration has become a central issue among Democratic presidential candidates ahead of the 2020 election, with several — including former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro and Sens. Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisTexas Democratic official urges Biden to visit state: 'I thought he had his own plane' The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden on Trump: 'He'll leave' l GOP laywers brush off Trump's election remarks l Obama's endorsements A game theorist's advice to President Trump on filling the Supreme Court seat MORE (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersSirota reacts to report of harassment, doxing by Harris supporters Republicans not immune to the malady that hobbled Democrats The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Republicans lawmakers rebuke Trump on election MORE (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenOvernight Defense: Appeals court revives House lawsuit against military funding for border wall | Dems push for limits on transferring military gear to police | Lawmakers ask for IG probe into Pentagon's use of COVID-19 funds On The Money: Half of states deplete funds for Trump's 0 unemployment expansion | EU appealing ruling in Apple tax case | House Democrats include more aid for airlines in coronavirus package Warren, Khanna request IG investigation into Pentagon's use of coronavirus funds MORE (D-Mass.) — calling for the elimination of a misdemeanor penalty that comes with entering the U.S. illegally.

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Those who illegally enter the U.S. can currently be prosecuted and sentenced to up to six months in prison, which critics such as Warren say has made the Trump administration’s family separations at the border possible.

The decriminalization push by Democratic White House hopefuls has raised concerns from former top Obama administration officials, who say the party is leaving itself vulnerable to Republican attacks in the 2020 race. Reid told Vice News that supporting decriminalization would “of course” be problematic in next year's election.

2020 Democrats remain sharply divided on the issue, with former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke, former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenFormer Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick Bloomberg rolls out M ad buy to boost Biden in Florida MORE and Montana Gov. Steve Bullock Steve BullockCourt removes Pendley from role as public lands chief On The Trail: Making sense of this week's polling tsunami McConnell locks down key GOP votes in Supreme Court fight MORE among the list of those who say they wouldn’t support decriminalizing border crossings.