The White House appears poised for a fight over its policy of separating migrant families who cross the border illegally, even as a growing number of…
The White House appears poised for a fight over its policy of separating migrant families who cross the border illegally, even as a growing number of lawmakers are voicing concerns about the practice.
Democrats and some Republicans have in recent days visited facilities used to house separated family members, leading to new questions about the process and growing calls for the policy to end.
GOP Sens. Jeff Flake (Ariz.) and Susan Collins (Maine) wrote to the Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services on Saturday asking for clarity on the administration’s practice of separating migrant families.
The letter cites multiple instances where families seeking asylum were separated, despite the administration’s assurances that wasn’t the case. The senators asked for details on when children are separated from their parents, what the purpose of doing so is, and how many children have been separated during the asylum claim process.
“It is critical that Congress fully understands how our nation’s laws are being implemented on the ground, especially when the well-being of young children is at stake,” the senators wrote.
Flake and Collins joined numerous congressional colleagues on Sunday in questioning or outright opposing the decision to separate migrant children from their parents. Democrats and Republicans have called the policy ” inhumane,” ” abhorrent,” and ” inconsistent with American values .”
Attorney General Jeff Sessions enacted the policy earlier this year, announcing that the Department of Justice would criminally prosecute all adults attempting to cross the Southern border illegally into the U. S. As a result, families who crossed together illegally would, in some cases be separated, he said.
Around 2,000 children have been separated from their families over the past six weeks, according to reports .
The president, Sessions and other officials have defended the policy, saying it acts as a deterrent against illegal immigration.
Trump has blamed Democrats for the practice, despite the order coming from his own administration.
On Sunday, a pair of White House officials acknowledged their distaste for the policy, even as the administration indicates it has no intention of unilaterally ending it.
“As a mother, as a Catholic, as somebody who’s got a conscience… I will tell you that nobody likes this policy,” White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
“Congress passed the law that it is a crime to enter this country illegally. So if they don’t like that law, they should change it,” she added.
First lady Melania Trump, who rarely weighs in on policy matters, also appeared to oppose the family separation policy, though she did not call on the administration to end it.
“Mrs. Trump hates to see children separated from their families and hopes both sides of the aisle can finally come together to achieve successful immigration reform. She believes we need to be a country that follows all laws, but also a country that governs with heart,” Stephanie Grisham, the first lady’s communications director, said in a statement to The Hill.
While many lawmakers are questioning the policy, there seems to be little agreement on a legislative solution.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has led the charge on a Democratic proposal that would only allow children to be separated from a parent if they are being abused, trafficked or if a court decides “it is in the best interests of the child.”
That legislation has drawn little bipartisan support, however. Collins called the measure “far too broad.”
“That’s not to say that we shouldn’t act to try to curb illegal immigration. We should, and I support the president’s proposals for border security,” Collins said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
“We do need to strengthen our security at the border,” she continued. “But we know from years of experience that we need to fix our immigration laws and that using children is not the answer.”
The House is expected to vote this week on two Republican immigration proposals. One is a more conservative bill authored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), and the other is a more moderate measure proposed by centrist leaders.
While it’s unclear which proposal will earn more GOP support, Democrats have already balked at the prospect of a legislative compromise on immigration reform.
“It’s going to be very difficult to get a comprehensive immigration bill on an election year, on any year. So let’s not tear these families apart in the meantime,” Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said on “Meet the Press.”
While Congress struggles to come to an agreement on immigration policy, many have noted that ending the separation policy doesn’t require such an unlikely effort.
“This is clearly something that the administration can change,” Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) told CNN.
“They don’t need legislation to change it. they don’t need Democrats in order to change it. this is a Department of Justice policy, and this is something thats’ being enacted by HHS.”
