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| Child separations: Trump faces extreme backlash from public and his own party | Child separations: Trump faces extreme backlash from public and his own party |
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| Donald Trump heads to Capitol Hill on Tuesday afternoon facing an extraordinary backlash from his own party – and the American public – over his policy of separating children from their parents at the southern US border. | Donald Trump heads to Capitol Hill on Tuesday afternoon facing an extraordinary backlash from his own party – and the American public – over his policy of separating children from their parents at the southern US border. |
| Two in three voters oppose the separations, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll, as an outcry from Democratic and Republican politicians, former first ladies, churches, commentators and business leaders gathers momentum. | Two in three voters oppose the separations, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll, as an outcry from Democratic and Republican politicians, former first ladies, churches, commentators and business leaders gathers momentum. |
| “When does public opinion become a demand that politicians just can’t ignore?” said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac poll. “Two-thirds of American voters oppose the family separation policy at our borders. Neither quotes from the Bible nor get-tough talk can soften the images of crying children nor reverse the pain so many Americans feel.” | |
| Trump’s election campaign was built around a tough stance on immigration, with “build the wall” a frequent chant at his rallies. He is now losing the battle for public opinion, though support among his Republican base is resilient and might encourage him to dig in. | Trump’s election campaign was built around a tough stance on immigration, with “build the wall” a frequent chant at his rallies. He is now losing the battle for public opinion, though support among his Republican base is resilient and might encourage him to dig in. |
| For example, despite the firestorm, Republicans support the zero tolerance policy at the border by 55% to 35%, the Quinnipiac survey found. And while national voters oppose building a wall on the border with Mexico by 58% to 39%, three in four Republicans back it. | For example, despite the firestorm, Republicans support the zero tolerance policy at the border by 55% to 35%, the Quinnipiac survey found. And while national voters oppose building a wall on the border with Mexico by 58% to 39%, three in four Republicans back it. |
| One issue does cross the partisan divide. Four in five voters support allowing undocumented migrants brought to the US as children, so-called “Dreamers”, to remain and ultimately apply for citizenship. According to the Quinnipiac poll, which questioned 905 voters nationwide from 14 to 17 June, support ranges from 61% to 28% among Republicans to 94% to 5% among Democrats. | One issue does cross the partisan divide. Four in five voters support allowing undocumented migrants brought to the US as children, so-called “Dreamers”, to remain and ultimately apply for citizenship. According to the Quinnipiac poll, which questioned 905 voters nationwide from 14 to 17 June, support ranges from 61% to 28% among Republicans to 94% to 5% among Democrats. |
| Public reaction to the border policy – nearly 2,000 children were separated from their families over a six-week period in April and May – is disquieting many Republicans facing midterm elections in November. An editorial in the Wall Street Journal warned the party’s internal feuding over immigration is fast becoming “an election-year nightmare over separating immigrant children from their parents”. | Public reaction to the border policy – nearly 2,000 children were separated from their families over a six-week period in April and May – is disquieting many Republicans facing midterm elections in November. An editorial in the Wall Street Journal warned the party’s internal feuding over immigration is fast becoming “an election-year nightmare over separating immigrant children from their parents”. |
| The conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt was quoted by the Axios website as saying this could be “Trump’s Katrina” – a reference to the 2005 hurricane that devastated both New Orleans and the reputation of George W Bush. | The conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt was quoted by the Axios website as saying this could be “Trump’s Katrina” – a reference to the 2005 hurricane that devastated both New Orleans and the reputation of George W Bush. |
| Trump, who could end the crisis with a phone call, was scheduled to meet House Republicans on Tuesday afternoon in what could turn into a heated confrontation in an already sweltering Washington. His homeland security secretary, Kirstjen Nielsen, has insisted: “Congress alone can fix it.” | |
| In April 2018, the US attorney general, Jeff Sessions, announced a “zero tolerance” policy under which anyone who crossed the border without legal status would be prosecuted by the justice department. This includes some, but not all, asylum seekers. Because children can’t be held in adult detention facilities, they are being separated from their parents. | In April 2018, the US attorney general, Jeff Sessions, announced a “zero tolerance” policy under which anyone who crossed the border without legal status would be prosecuted by the justice department. This includes some, but not all, asylum seekers. Because children can’t be held in adult detention facilities, they are being separated from their parents. |
| Immigrant advocacy groups, however, say hundreds of families have been separated since at least July 2017. | Immigrant advocacy groups, however, say hundreds of families have been separated since at least July 2017. |
| More than 200 child welfare groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the United Nations, said they opposed the practice. | More than 200 child welfare groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the United Nations, said they opposed the practice. |
| They are supposed to enter the system for processing “unaccompanied alien children”, which exists primarily to serve children who voluntarily arrive at the border on their own. Unaccompanied alien children are placed in health department custody within 72 hours of being apprehended by border agents. They then wait in shelters for weeks or months at a time as the government searches for parents, relatives or family friends to place them with in the US. | They are supposed to enter the system for processing “unaccompanied alien children”, which exists primarily to serve children who voluntarily arrive at the border on their own. Unaccompanied alien children are placed in health department custody within 72 hours of being apprehended by border agents. They then wait in shelters for weeks or months at a time as the government searches for parents, relatives or family friends to place them with in the US. |
| This already overstretched system has been thrown into chaos by the new influx of children. | This already overstretched system has been thrown into chaos by the new influx of children. |
| Immigration advocacy groups and attorneys have warned that there is not a clear system in place to reunite families. In one case, attorneys in Texas said they had been given a phone number to help parents locate their children, but it ended up being the number for an immigration enforcement tip line. | Immigration advocacy groups and attorneys have warned that there is not a clear system in place to reunite families. In one case, attorneys in Texas said they had been given a phone number to help parents locate their children, but it ended up being the number for an immigration enforcement tip line. |
| Advocates for children have said they do not know how to find parents, who are more likely to have important information about why the family is fleeing its home country. And if, for instance, a parent is deported, there is no clear way for them to ensure their child is deported with them. | Advocates for children have said they do not know how to find parents, who are more likely to have important information about why the family is fleeing its home country. And if, for instance, a parent is deported, there is no clear way for them to ensure their child is deported with them. |
| When an influx of families and unaccompanied children fleeing Central America arrived at the border in 2014, Barack Obama’s administration detained families. | When an influx of families and unaccompanied children fleeing Central America arrived at the border in 2014, Barack Obama’s administration detained families. |
| This was harshly criticized and a federal court in 2015 stopped the government from holding families for months without explanation. Instead, they were released while they waited for their immigration cases to be heard in court. Not everyone shows up for those court dates, leading the Trump administration to condemn what it calls a “catch and release” program. By Amanda Holpuch | This was harshly criticized and a federal court in 2015 stopped the government from holding families for months without explanation. Instead, they were released while they waited for their immigration cases to be heard in court. Not everyone shows up for those court dates, leading the Trump administration to condemn what it calls a “catch and release” program. By Amanda Holpuch |
| Read more | Read more |
| The president unleashed more tweets on the subject on Tuesday. He offered no concessions. “Democrats are the problem,” he wrote. “They don’t care about crime and want illegal immigrants, no matter how bad they may be, to pour into and infest our Country, like MS-13. They can’t win on their terrible policies, so they view them as potential voters!” | The president unleashed more tweets on the subject on Tuesday. He offered no concessions. “Democrats are the problem,” he wrote. “They don’t care about crime and want illegal immigrants, no matter how bad they may be, to pour into and infest our Country, like MS-13. They can’t win on their terrible policies, so they view them as potential voters!” |
| He added: “#CHANGETHELAWS Now is the best opportunity ever for Congress to change the ridiculous and obsolete laws on immigration. Get it done, always keeping in mind that we must have strong border security.” | He added: “#CHANGETHELAWS Now is the best opportunity ever for Congress to change the ridiculous and obsolete laws on immigration. Get it done, always keeping in mind that we must have strong border security.” |
| But whereas Republicans have habitually followed Trump’s lead, prompting comparisons to a cult, the emotive images and sounds of children in fenced cages have prompted a growing number to speak out. | But whereas Republicans have habitually followed Trump’s lead, prompting comparisons to a cult, the emotive images and sounds of children in fenced cages have prompted a growing number to speak out. |
| Fred Upton, a congressman from Michigan, urged an immediate end to the “ugly and inhumane practice”, adding: “It’s never acceptable to use kids as bargaining chips in political process.” | Fred Upton, a congressman from Michigan, urged an immediate end to the “ugly and inhumane practice”, adding: “It’s never acceptable to use kids as bargaining chips in political process.” |
| Lisa Murkowski, a senator from Alaska, said: “The time is now for the White House to end the cruel, tragic separations of families.” John McCain of Arizona, a frequent Trump critic, tweeted: “The administration’s current family separation policy is an affront to the decency of the American people, and contrary to principles and values upon which our nation was founded. The administration has the power to rescind this policy. It should do so now.” | Lisa Murkowski, a senator from Alaska, said: “The time is now for the White House to end the cruel, tragic separations of families.” John McCain of Arizona, a frequent Trump critic, tweeted: “The administration’s current family separation policy is an affront to the decency of the American people, and contrary to principles and values upon which our nation was founded. The administration has the power to rescind this policy. It should do so now.” |
| Despite previously asserting that it would oppose any fix aimed solely at addressing the plight of children separated from their parents, the White House acknowledged on Tuesday that it is reviewing emergency legislation introduced by Ted Cruz, the hardline senator who faces a re-election fight in Texas, to keep families together. | Despite previously asserting that it would oppose any fix aimed solely at addressing the plight of children separated from their parents, the White House acknowledged on Tuesday that it is reviewing emergency legislation introduced by Ted Cruz, the hardline senator who faces a re-election fight in Texas, to keep families together. |
| Asked if the White House supports the Cruz measure, Mercedes Schlapp, director of strategic communications, told reporters: “We’re looking into the legislative text on the Cruz bill.” | Asked if the White House supports the Cruz measure, Mercedes Schlapp, director of strategic communications, told reporters: “We’re looking into the legislative text on the Cruz bill.” |
| Other legislation is in the works in both the House and Senate, aiming to provide Trump with a face-saving solution and spare Republicans from a public relations disaster heading into November. The House is already locked in a struggle over immigration legislation that threatens to damage Republicans’ chances. Democrats have been paying personal visits to detention centres in Texas and demanding the resignation of Nielsen. | Other legislation is in the works in both the House and Senate, aiming to provide Trump with a face-saving solution and spare Republicans from a public relations disaster heading into November. The House is already locked in a struggle over immigration legislation that threatens to damage Republicans’ chances. Democrats have been paying personal visits to detention centres in Texas and demanding the resignation of Nielsen. |
| There has also been condemnation from religious leaders and the business community. On a visit to Dublin, Tim Cook, chief executive of Apple, told the Irish Times: “It’s heartbreaking to see the images and hear the sounds of the kids. Kids are the most vulnerable people in any society. I think that what’s happening is inhumane, it needs to stop.” | There has also been condemnation from religious leaders and the business community. On a visit to Dublin, Tim Cook, chief executive of Apple, told the Irish Times: “It’s heartbreaking to see the images and hear the sounds of the kids. Kids are the most vulnerable people in any society. I think that what’s happening is inhumane, it needs to stop.” |
| Politicians in Mexico, which is less than a fortnight away from a presidential election, lined up to denounce the separations. “The brutality of the policy … will be one of the black pages in the modern history of the United States,” tweeted former president Felipe Calderón. “We must all do everything we can to revert it. It is cruel, inhumane, illegal.” | Politicians in Mexico, which is less than a fortnight away from a presidential election, lined up to denounce the separations. “The brutality of the policy … will be one of the black pages in the modern history of the United States,” tweeted former president Felipe Calderón. “We must all do everything we can to revert it. It is cruel, inhumane, illegal.” |
| Presidential candidate Ricardo Anaya said the treatment of young immigrants recalled the “terrifying images” of Nazis separating mothers from their children. His rival, José Antonio Meade, denounced the policy as an unacceptable “horror”. | Presidential candidate Ricardo Anaya said the treatment of young immigrants recalled the “terrifying images” of Nazis separating mothers from their children. His rival, José Antonio Meade, denounced the policy as an unacceptable “horror”. |
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