Facing rising outrage from some Republicans as well as Democrats over the forced separation of migrant children and parents at the U.S.-Mexico border, President Donald Trump dug in Monday, again falsely blaming Democrats and declaring he would keep the U.S.
There is no law that mandates the separation of children from parents at the U.S border. The separations are a result of the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy that was rolled out weeks ago.
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen says officials will not apologize for enforcing immigration laws that result in the separation of children from their parents. Nielsen was speaking Monday at the National Sheriff's Association conference in New Orleans.
First lady Melania Trump didn't refer specifically to the Trump administration's "no tolerance" policy, which was leading to a spike in children being separated from their families.
The emotional policy of separating children from their parents is also starting to divide Republicans and their allies as Democrats turn up the pressure.
As families around the country celebrated Father’s Day, immigration activists in Texas on Sunday held a march and vigil to draw attention to recent separations of immigrant children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The figures show that 1,995 minors were separated from 1,940 adults from April 19 through May 31. The separations were not broken down by age, and included separations for illegal entry, immigration violations or possible criminal conduct by the adult.
Congressional Republicans have distanced themselves from the Trump administration's policy of separating children from their parents at the southern border.
Additional Support Provided By:
