It may not have been the most opportune time for the State Department to offer family travel tips. The responses spoke volumes.<\/b>
\nIt might not have been the most opportune time for the State Department to hold a Facebook Live chat on how to travel with children.
In the midst of the Trump administration\u2019s crackdown on the southern border that has separated crying children from their parents and incited a national uproar, the State Department\u2019s consular affairs unit held a question-and-answer session via Facebook on Tuesday intended for American families going abroad.
\u201cJoin us for our #FamilyTravelHacks chat!,\u201d the Facebook post caption reads. \u201cAsk us your questions about applying for U. S. passports for your kids, document requirements, and tips to make sure your vacation this summer goes smoothly.\u201d
The responses spoke volumes.
\u201cDo you recommend cage training for children to get them used to arriving in the US?,\u201d Facebook user Matt Schneider commented. \u201cHow long should I leave them alone in a cage to get them used to being imprisoned alone?\u201d
Another user, Theresa Rowe, asked: \u201cWhat is the process for getting my children back once the US Government has separated them from me and incarcerated them?\u201d
The question-and-answer session was hosted by two passport service workers who identified themselves as Carl and Kim and described their experience in obtaining passports for their children.
They displayed the standard 2-by-2 inch passport photographs of their children. Kim explained that the State Department accepts photos of newborns even if their eyes are closed.
\u201cWe understand how difficult it is and we don\u2019t want to make the parents\u2019 life very difficult,\u201d she said.
Some users asked straightforward questions, including how to replace lost or stolen passports.
But many of the responses were sarcastic.
\u201cI think she\u2019s reading the comments. Looks uncomfortable.\u201d said user Julee Steele, observing Kim\u2019s facial expression during the live chat. \u201cI\u2019m surprised they decided to cover this topic right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

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