U.S. Democrats, activists rally against Trump's family separation policy

By Joseph Ax

 

People participate in a protest against recent U.S. immigration policy of separating children from their families when they enter the United States as undocumented immigrants, in front of a Homeland Security facility in Elizabeth, NJ, U.S. June 17, 2018. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

 

ELIZABETH, N.J. (Reuters) - Democratic lawmakers joined hundreds of protesters outside an immigration detention facility in New Jersey on Sunday for a Father's Day demonstration against theTrump administration's practice of separating children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border.

 

"This must not be who we are as a nation," said Representative Jerrold Nadler, one of seven members of Congress from New York and New Jersey who met with five detainees inside the facility, including three who said they had young relatives removed from their care after seeking asylum at the border.

 

The event in the city of Elizabeth came as news stories highlighting the family separations intensified political pressure on the White House, even from some of President Donald Trump's fellow Republicans.

 

U.S. officials said on Friday that nearly 2,000 children were separated from adults at the border between mid-April and the end of May.

In May, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a "zero tolerance" policy in which all those apprehended entering the United States illegally, including those seeking asylum, would be criminally charged, which generally leads to children being separated from their parents.

 

The policy has drawn condemnation from medical professionals, religious leaders and immigration activists, who warn that some children could suffer lasting psychological trauma. The children are held in government facilities, released to adult sponsors or placed in temporary foster care.

 

In South Texas on Sunday, several Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Jeff Merkley, were due to tour detention facilities to call attention to the policy, while Representative Beto O'Rourke, who is running for the U.S. Senate in Texas, said he would march with protesters to the border.

 

"This is inhumane," O'Rourke told CNN. "I'd like to say it's un-American, but it's happening right now in America."

 

Some moderate Republicans have also called on Trump to stop the separations. Senators Susan Collins and Jeff Flake wrote to White House officials on Saturday seeking more information on the policy.

 

"It is inconsistent with our American values to separate these children from their parents," Collins said on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday.

 

'STOP LYING'

Administration officials have defended the tactic as necessary to secure the border and suggested it would act as a deterrent to illegal immigration, while Trump has sought to blame Democrats, saying their support for passage of a broader immigration bill would end the separations.

 

"As a mother, as a Catholic, as somebody who has got a conscience. ... I will tell you that nobody likes this policy," White House adviser Kellyanne Conway said on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. "You saw the president (say) on camera that he wants this to end."

 

Democrats have accused Trump of effectively turning the children into political hostages to secure stricter immigration measures, such as funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall.

 

"Stop lying to the American people. This is your policy," Democratic U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries said in New Jersey.

 

A spokeswoman for Melania Trump told CNN on Sunday that the first lady "hates to see children separated from their families" and hopes lawmakers from both parties can agree on immigration reform, in what was a rare public statement on a policy issue from the president's wife. Her "Be Best" platform, unveiled in May, is dedicated to children's well-being.

 

The lawmakers in Elizabeth waited about 90 minutes to gain access to the detention facility, which is operated for the U.S. government by a private contractor.

 

While the legislators stood inside a cramped waiting room filled with relatives of detainees, a television showed an interview with Steve Bannon, the former senior adviser to the president whose hardline views on immigration helped shape Trump's presidential campaign and first months in office.

 

Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives will introduce legislation this week aimed at stopping separations, mirroring a similar Senate bill sponsored by Democrat Dianne Feinstein. But neither bill has much hope of securing enough support in the Republican-controlled Congress, let alone survivingTrump's veto pen.

 

Roy Garcia, 43, attended the protest with his wife, Linda, and their sons, 8-year-old Julian and 11-year-old Sebastian.

 

"It's hard for me to enjoy Father's Day knowing what's happening to other children and families," he said. "It's heartbreaking."

 

(Reporting by Joseph Ax; Additional reporting by Lindsay Dunsmuir and Valerie Volcovici in Washington; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-06-18

Ah yes, the same policy that the Obama administration had. If the dems didn't have double standards, they would have no standards at all.

6 minutes ago, bkkgriz said:

Ah yes, the same policy that the Obama administration had. If the dems didn't have double standards, they would have no standards at all.

Total lie.

Someone actually believes it.

Sad.

"trump" depends  on his core white nationalist base to continue to buy his bald faced lies.

In my view, it's not only "trump" that is the villain here, it is ALSO all of his supporters that continue to enable the lying con man by believing every BS lie that comes out of his mouth. 

 

https://www.thedailybeast.com/john-oliver-exposes-trumps-lies-about-his-border-child-separation-policy

“Democrats did not give them these laws, because—and I cannot stress this enough—there is no law that suddenly required separating parents from their children. This is a result of a deliberate policy choice by Jeff Sessions.”

 

 

 

 

cuellar is a democrat politician

NYT has an interesting piece on this. 

Quote

For more than a decade, even as illegal immigration levels fell over all, seasonal spikes in unauthorized border crossings had bedeviled American presidents in both political parties, prompting them to cast about for increasingly aggressive ways to discourage migrants from making the trek.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/16/us/politics/family-separation-trump.html

 

After Bush Jr., The Obama Administration was faced with a false belief by would be illegal parents, that they could use their children as emotional leverage to gain special treatment in their quest to enter the US.  The Administration was focused on preventing that with stricter border policy, opened family detention centers for mothers/kids pending deportation or furthering processing, as well as sending an official to Guatemala to advertise the end-state reality to those contemplating the long, perilous trip. 

Remember when people said it didn't matter who you voted for because there was no difference between the two candidates?

 

Now we have child concentration camps.

58 minutes ago, atyclb said:

 

 

cuellar is a democrat politician

Except of course that under the Obama administraton the children came alone unaccompanied by adults. The Obama administration did not forcibly separate children from their parents.

1 hour ago, bkkgriz said:

Ah yes, the same policy that the Obama administration had.

 

Are you calling for the policy to stop?  It's not quite clear from your post how you feel about it, aside from the childish "but YOU started it!" claim.

Quote

Some economic migrants are using children as chits, but the problem is fixable — if Congress acts. The latest furor over Trump immigration policy involves the separation of children from parents at the border.

As usual, the outrage obscures more than it illuminates, so it’s worth walking through what’s happening here.

https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/05/illegal-immigration-enforcement-separating-kids-at-border/

29 minutes ago, 55Jay said:

https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/05/illegal-immigration-enforcement-separating-kids-at-border/

What’s happening here is Trump has ordered the separation of children from their parents and is using these children as bargaining chips to force Congress to fund his border wall.

 

The action Congress needs to take is impeach Trump.

What’s happening here is Trump has ordered the separation of children from their parents and is using these children as bargaining chips to force Congress to fund his border wall.
 
The action Congress needs to take is impeach Trump.

Yep. The commander of chaos doubles as the child abuser in chief. No matter how low he goes he always finds a way to go lower. Americans - - normalize this stain on the presidency at your peril.

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

I just saw a post that quoted John Oliver as a news source, thanks for the Monday morning laugh!

3 minutes ago, rgraham said:

I just saw a post that quoted John Oliver as a news source, thanks for the Monday morning laugh!

Anything to do with this thread?

40 minutes ago, rgraham said:

I just saw a post that quoted John Oliver as a news source, thanks for the Monday morning laugh!

You think that's funny? I read posts on thaivisa all the time that quote Donald Trump as a news source.

Trump brings child concentration camps to the US.

 

Elsewhere illiberals acuse those who oppose Trump as being ‘haters’.

 

Count me in, I’ll hate anyone who orders children to beforcibly removed from their parents with no judicial overview and then locks the children in cages.

 

Yes I **cking hate Trump for that.

4 hours ago, bristolboy said:

Except of course that under the Obama administraton the children came alone unaccompanied by adults. The Obama administration did not forcibly separate children from their parents.

do you know that as a fact???? were you there supervising or just take as gospel the msm narrative ?  zero tolerance means apparently children not with a valid legal guardian or parent.  detention of minors actually protects them from human trafficking and other bad things they could get involved with trying to survive on their own if allowed to roam free in the country.

57 minutes ago, atyclb said:

do you know that as a fact???? were you there supervising or just take as gospel the msm narrative ?  zero tolerance means apparently children not with a valid legal guardian or parent.  detention of minors actually protects them from human trafficking and other bad things they could get involved with trying to survive on their own if allowed to roam free in the country.

So unless you're on the scene personally, you can't know? In that case, how do you know that ICE officers aren't whipping the children and making them harvest cotton in the fields of Texas?

Hey, I like this approach to the news.

Or it could be that even people who were very critical of the Obama administration's approach, never made the claim the children were being separated from their parents.

In almost every country that I worked, and that was quite a few, every effort was made to keep children with their parent/guardian.   With the exception of unaccompanied minor children, who have to have a legal guardian appointed, they should not be separated from the family.   If the entire family has to held in detention, then they are held together.

 

The integrity of the family unit is enshrined in the laws and regulations of HHS.   Children are removed because of abuse, neglect or abandonment.   In those situations,  it is mandated that every effort be made to reunite the family.   If a child is removed from the family, they are to be kept in the least restrictive environment possible.   That is why most children are placed in foster care and not into institutional settings.   

 

The gov't is now placing them in unlicensed facilities and are most likely in violation of the standards set in the state for a child care facility.   

 

I suspect that numerous laws are being broken in the separation process and it remains to be seen if this will end up in court challenges.  

 

 

2 hours ago, bristolboy said:

So unless you're on the scene personally, you can't know? In that case, how do you know that ICE officers aren't whipping the children and making them harvest cotton in the fields of Texas?

Hey, I like this approach to the news.

Or it could be that even people who were very critical of the Obama administration's approach, never made the claim the children were being separated from their parents.

 

option 1) on the scene personally supervising . option 2) take the msm narrative as gospel

 

i dont know if ice officers are whipping them and making them harvest cotton, neither do you.

 

 

thanks for the added option of not believing anything on the news

 

 

Bottom line.

"trump" is lying.

As he does daily, multiple times.

His fans eat it up. It's hard to have any respect at all for either.

Defending child abuse just because you worship a lying politician. 

How low can this go?

 

The new image of "trump" land to the world? From shining city on a hill to a nation that is hateful, divided, resentful, ignorant, racist, cruel and unusual. Reflecting the "big" man himself. 

Quote

 

NEW YORK TIMESTrump and the Baby Snatchers

Family separation is one of the most callous policies Trump has implemented.

...

“It is the Trump administration’s decision this year to prosecute all unlawful immigrants as criminals that has forced the breakup of families; the children are removed when the parents are taken into federal custody.

...

Trump is lying, as he often does. This barbaric policy is an outgrowth of his own personal cruelty. It’s absolutely reprehensible and an absolute reflection of him.

 

http://www.paywallnews.com/life/Opinion-|-Trump-and-the-Baby-Snatchers.rkTmnDHs_E-Q.html

3 minutes ago, Scott said:

I suspect that numerous laws are being broken in the separation process and it remains to be seen if this will end up in court challenges.  

It seems the US has forgotten one of the most important set of principles established during one of the most important trials it presided over in the 20th century. The Nuremberg trials: Here are the first 4 principles established, where , to cut a long story short, men were hanged because you cannot hide behind the statement "I was ordered to do it".

 

Quote

Principle I. Any person who commits an act which constitutes a crime under international law is responsible therefore and liable to punishment.

Principle II. The fact that internal law does not impose a penalty for an act which constitutes a crime under international law does not relieve the person who committed the act from responsibility under international law.

Principle III. The fact that a person who committed an act which constitutes a crime under international law acted as Head of State or responsible government official does not relieve him from responsibility under international law.

Principle IV. The fact that a person acted pursuant to order of his Government or of a superior does not relieve him from responsibility under international law, provided a moral choice was in fact possible to him

There is NO law stating that the children must be separated from their parents and I would go out on a limb to state that I am sure that International Law is being contravened when people present themselves properly in accordance with the law as an asylum seeker and are then detained and have their children taken away, the same as someone illegally crossing the border.

 

The USA no longer have any right to question any other country about human rights abuses. What is happening is a disgrace and I must confess to watching a particular report on the news today where I was moved to an emotional reaction at the horror of what is occurring (must have been some dust in the air). Trump is keeping excellent company with the likes of Kim Jong. Normal, decent, coherent Americans need to make these SOB's (Presidentially used term) pay at the elections, and the ring leaders need jailing.

how deep can a country sink? poor America. moral bankruptcy? Gas chamber? i hope the supporters of such politics may choke on the money in their throat.

I doubt that they are directly violating international laws, but removal of children under US laws is done only by a Court Order for specific reasons and the goal is for reunification.   Once there is a court involvement, then there is a guardian ad-litem to protect the interests of the child.  

 

Children have to placed in a suitable environment, such as a licensed foster home or licensed child care facility.   Licensing is done by the States.   I doubt that a tent would meet the minimum safety, health and fire standards in most states.   

 

14 minutes ago, Scott said:

I doubt that they are directly violating international laws, but removal of children under US laws is done only by a Court Order for specific reasons and the goal is for reunification.   Once there is a court involvement, then there is a guardian ad-litem to protect the interests of the child.  

 

Children have to placed in a suitable environment, such as a licensed foster home or licensed child care facility.   Licensing is done by the States.   I doubt that a tent would meet the minimum safety, health and fire standards in most states.   

 

 

There is a lot of information out there but I am almost certain international AND American law is being contravened especially in the example of the legal asylum seeker.

 

Quote

RIGHT TO FAMILY LIFE

The family is seen as the “natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.” See, e.g., International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 23(1). In respect of this right, a number of countries provide for the granting of derivative status to dependent relatives. Thus, where an individual is granted asylum, his or her dependent relatives will also receive protection through him or her. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(3)(A) (U.S.); Immigration Rules, 2012, S.I. 2012/11, art. 339Q(iii) (U.K.); National Refugee Proclamation, No. 409/2004, art. 12 (Eth.); Refugees Act (2014) Cap. 173 § 15 (Kenya). However, should that individual’s refugee status be terminated, the status of dependent relatives will also be terminated. National Refugee Proclamation, No. 409/2004, art. 6(1) (Eth.); Refugees Act (2014) Cap. 173 § 20(1) (Kenya). Consequently, these domestic laws do not preclude dependent relatives from making their own asylum claims. National Refugee Proclamation, No. 409/2004, art. 12(5) (Eth.); Refugees Act (2014) Cap. 173 § 15(4) (Kenya).

The definition of a dependent relative, however, varies by the cultural notions of family prevalent in the State party. In the U.K., dependents are defined as the “spouse, civil partner, unmarried or same-sex partner, or minor child accompanying [the applicant]” while in Kenya, dependent relatives include the brother or sister of an applicant under the age of eighteen, “or any dependent grandparent, parent, grandchild or ward living in the same household as the refugee.” Immigration Rules, 2012, S.I. 2012/11, art. 349 (U.K.); Refugees Act (2014) Cap. 173 § 2 (Kenya).

But anyone can wade through much more information here and elsewhere:

 

https://ijrcenter.org/refugee-law/

General Hayden hits the sweet spot:

 

 

 

Watch "trump" lie (again) --

 

 

Quote

Democrats and some in Mr Trump's own Republican Party have strongly condemned the administration.

The crackdown has even provoked fierce criticism from the president's wife, Melania Trump, who said over the weekend she "hates to see children separated from families".

Former First Lady Laura Bush meanwhile wrote in a Washington Post op-ed that the policy was "cruel" and "immoral" and evoked Japanese-American internment camps during the Second World War.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-44523541

Me think DT may have to go to Russia if he wants nookie...  

 

Has "trump" finally gone to far?

Sadly the answer to that is always no.

There is nothing he could do that would be so despicable that would shift his white nationalist base.

He called that in the campaign. That he could just randomly shoot people on the street and his mindless fans would stick with him.

The hope here for sane and humane Americans is that this base is large but not a majority, and never will be a majority.

 

 

Quote

WASHINGTON POSTSo it may not make any difference that Trump’s victims are finally visible — and pitifully young. His GOP enablers are so craven, so soulless, so abject in their dishonor that they will allow any amount of human suffering rather than risk suffering the wrath of Trump. The president may finally decide to end the family-separation policy simply to stem the deluge of calamitous publicity, but he won’t be forced to act by Congress. If only we could keep the hard-working Latin American newcomers and deport the contemptible Republican cowards — that would truly enhance America’s greatness.

http://www.paywallnews.com/news/Opinion-|-Has-Trump-finally-gone-too-far-.BynhVKS-Q.html

Former first lady Laura Bush --

 

Quote

“Our government should not be in the business of warehousing children in converted box stores or making plans to place them in tent cities in the desert outside of El Paso. These images are eerily reminiscent of the Japanese American internment camps of World War II, now considered to have been one of the most shameful episodes in U.S. history. We also know that this treatment inflicts trauma; interned Japanese have been two times as likely to suffer cardiovascular disease or die prematurely than those who were not interned."

 

7 hours ago, Scott said:

In almost every country that I worked, and that was quite a few, every effort was made to keep children with their parent/guardian.   With the exception of unaccompanied minor children, who have to have a legal guardian appointed, they should not be separated from the family.   If the entire family has to held in detention, then they are held together.

 

The integrity of the family unit is enshrined in the laws and regulations of HHS.   Children are removed because of abuse, neglect or abandonment.   In those situations,  it is mandated that every effort be made to reunite the family.   If a child is removed from the family, they are to be kept in the least restrictive environment possible.   That is why most children are placed in foster care and not into institutional settings.   

 

The gov't is now placing them in unlicensed facilities and are most likely in violation of the standards set in the state for a child care facility.   

 

I suspect that numerous laws are being broken in the separation process and it remains to be seen if this will end up in court challenges.  

 

 

These adults are being prosecuted for entering the country illegally. They chose to ignore the advise of ICE,  for those seeking asylum, and not enter the country through a port of entry to avoid separation and prosecution. Exactly how many American citizens get special treatment and not have there children taken from them while being prosecuted for committing a crime? Furthermore where is the liberal outrage for the millions of homeless and neglected American children that dont have any of the luxuries afforded to illegal immigrant children?