Eric Holder: Calls to abolish ICE are ‘a gift to Republicans’

Former Attorney General Eric Holder said Friday that the growing calls from Democrats to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are a “gift” to Republicans.

“I don’t think that substantively or politically that makes a great deal of sense,” Holder, who served under former President Obama, told host Chuck Todd on MSNBC’s “MTP Daily.”

“In some ways, you’re giving the Republicans a gift by saying we’re going to have a debate now about whether ICE Should be abolished.”

WATCH: @EricHolder says calls to eliminate ICE are “a gift to Republicans” and more focus should be on separated families #MTPDaily pic.twitter.com/YV2RdyNdBq

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) July 13, 2018

Holder’s comments come as many Democratic lawmakers have voiced opposition to the agency in light of President Trump’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy that led to thousands of migrant families being separated at the southern border. 

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Earlier this week, a group of Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation that would eliminate the agency. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) responded by confirming a time for a vote on the bill.

Democratic Reps. Mark Pocan (Wis.), Pramila Jayapal (Wash.) and Adriano Espaillat (N.Y.) accused GOP leaders of attempting to exploit the legislation for political gain, saying they would vote against the measure if it was brought to the House floor.

“We know Speaker Ryan is not serious about passing our ‘Establishing a Humane Immigration Enforcement System Act,’ so members of Congress, advocacy groups, and impacted communities will not engage in this political stunt,” the Democrats said in a joint statement on Thursday, adding that they welcome an opportunity for a debate about the legislation. 

Republicans are hoping to force Democratic lawmakers running in swing districts in the November midterm elections into making a difficult vote on the agency. 

Holder told MSNBC that a debate on ICE moves away the focus from reunifying the thousands of migrant families separated at the border.

“The focus ought to be on what this administration did to those children,” Holder said.