A group of religious leaders, including two prominent Christians from Central Florida, called on the presidential candidates and their campaigns Monday to stop anti-immigrant rhetoric the group says is polarizing the nation.

As the candidates campaigned in Iowa and other early-voting states, leaders from the interdenominational Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform challenged them to moderate “the hateful tenor of the debate.” Some campaigns are competing to show who would be tougher on illegal immigration after reform efforts failed in Congress.

They particularly criticized some Republicans for discussing immigration primarily from the point of view of enforcement — creating a sense of insecurity among Hispanic immigrants who, they said, have seen an increase in hate crimes since the debate picked up steam.

“The debate is very divisive, and, unfortunately, the presidential candidates are allowing themselves to be co-opted into this divisiveness of the debate, rather than offering leadership,” said Bishop Thomas Wenski of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlando.

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