White House legislative affairs director Marc Short said the "data of the ad shows that there are people coming across our border that pose threats to our country." | Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images Trump aide tries to distance White House from ad attacking Democrats

A top White House aide on Sunday tried to distance the administration from an online ad accusing Democrats who oppose President Donald Trump's immigration policies of being "complicit" in murders committed by undocumented immigrants.

On Saturday, the president's reelection campaign released the ad, titled "Complicit," which hammers Democrats for opposing Trump's proposed border wall and other unspecified border security measures. "Democrats who stand in our way will be complicit in every murder committed by illegal immigrants," an announcer says over images of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).


Democrats and Republicans have been at odds over immigration, culminating in a government shutdown this weekend. But Republican leaders have shied away from backing the online ad.

"It's done from a political organization," White House legislative affairs director Marc Short told NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday. "It's not done from people working inside the White House."

When pressed on whether the tone of the ad was helpful given that the administration needs support from Senate Democrats to reopen the government, Short said, "I'm telling you, the data of the ad shows that there are people coming across our border that pose threats to our country."

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While the administration has said it will not negotiate immigration policies during the shutdown, the topic remains a key point of contention for Democrats. They have said any legislation to fund the government should extend Obama-era protections for undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as minors.

As lawmakers look for a solution to the shutdown before Monday, when most federal employees would normally go back to work, House Speaker Paul Ryan told CBS’ "Face the Nation" he wasn't sure the Trump campaign ad was "productive."