“Obviously, one of the questions is if parents would rather have the children with somebody else close by and not in the detention facility, that could possibly be accommodated – we’re still working on this”, Goodlatte said. “That’s traumatizing to the children who are innocent victims, and it is contrary to our values in this country”.
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Trump administration officials say the zero-tolerance policy, which was not practised by the two previous presidents, is needed to secure the border and deter illegal immigration. Bob Goodlatte, said he had spoken to Trump on Saturday and that the president “is fully committed to both of these bills”.
Congressional Republicans beat a full-scale retreat Monday from the administration’s zero-tolerance border policy, joining Democrats to demand that President Trump stop jailing parents and find ways to keep families together while trying to stop a new surge of illegal immigration.
In a rare comment, Mrs Trump spoke against the Trump administration’s harsh policy, saying the United States needs to be “a country that governs with heart”.
Melania Trump has spoken out against her husband’s border policy.
Since 7 May, all adults caught crossing the U.S. border illegally are being charged with federal crimes, resulting in parents being separated from their children.
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said she had not heard the audio but said children taken into custody by the government are being treated humanely.
From right: Former President Barack Obama, former USA first lady Michelle Obama, former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush attend the dedication of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., on September 24, 2016. The administration put the policy in place and could easily end it after it has led to a spike in cases of split and distraught families.
Bringing this full circle, Trump said he wants a merit based immigration system “so that Boeing, and Lockheed, and Grumman – all of the people here today, can hire people based on merit”.
Almost 2,000 children have been taken from their parents since Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the “zero tolerance” policy, which directs Homeland Security officials to refer all cases of illegal entry into the United States for prosecution. “This, I think, is a ideal example, of why our borders need to be secured”, Boyd said. “Not going to happen in the U.S”. There are other ways of doing this.
Earlier, first lady Melania Trump also weighed in through her communications director Stephanie Grisham.
Since children can not be sent to the facilities where their parents are held, they are separated from them.
Trump has repeatedly, incorrectly blamed Democrats in Congress for the policy.
“The increasing number of children being ripped away from their parents is sickening”, said Democratic Senator Michael Bennet.
Trump also claimed that criminals are using children to enter the country.
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“This was done by the President, not Democrats”, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. GOP Sen. Susan Collins also expressed concern.
