Bill de Blasio says Democrats ‘should’ve understood’ voters want a secure border

Published March 19, 2026 2:10pm ET



Former New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said he thinks the Democratic Party “overcompensated” with its response to President Donald Trump’s handling of immigration in his first term.

Former President Joe Biden and his administration received major criticism for their handling of border security, as the United States’s illegal immigrant population reached an all-time high of 14 million in 2023. De Blasio said he didn’t like Biden’s handling of the border, but didn’t say anything at the time because he “didn’t think it was as bad as it was.”

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