Despite public outcry and mounting political pressure, President Donald Trump has remained firm with his zero-tolerance immigration policy.
In April of 2018, the Trump administration announced it would be enforcing the criminal prosecution of all illegal immigrants. Since only the parents receive these charges, they are detained while the children are taken into the custody of a sponsor or held in a shelter. Nearly 2,000 children were separated from their families over a six-week period in April and May according to the administration.
50 Celebrities Who Have Died In 2018 – Tribute Slideshow
The new policy has received increasing criticism from Republican party members for separating families and supposedly using the children as a “negotiating tool” and deterrent to other families from migrating. On Tuesday, Republican Sen. John McCain labelled the policy “an affront to the decency of the American people, and contrary to principles and values upon which our nation was founded.” Republican Sen. Susan Collins also voiced her opposition.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.
SLIDESHOW: DONALD TRUMP’S 30 CRAZIEST TWEETS
Meanwhile, the office of Melania Trump released a statement noting that the first lady “hates to see children separated from their families” and hopes a solution can be reached.
In response to the mounting backlash, Trump has attempted to shrug off the responsibility, falsely claiming he is simply enforcing the laws already put in place by Democrats.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions also defended the hard-line policy Monday morning, claiming that if Congress had passed Trump’s immigration reform policies, including building the wall, they would not have to take such action.
“We do not want to separate parents from their children,” Sessions said. “If we build the wall, if we pass legislation to end the lawlessness, we won’t face these terrible choices.”
Critics, including former Republican Florida Governor Jeb Bush, argue that Trump’s current policy is being used as a bargaining chip to garner Congressional support to fund the border wall.
https://youtube.com/shorts/YVrfbMZSVRE?feature=share US President-elect Donald Trump drew cheers as he arrived in Texas on Nov. 19 to watch…
After President-elect Donald Trump selected Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman, as his nominee for…
President-elect Donald Trump's announcement that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be his pick for Department…
https://youtube.com/shorts/6CUvTmS87UM?feature=share President-elect Donald Trump arrived to cheers at an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event in…
President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) as his attorney general has sent shockwaves through…
https://youtube.com/shorts/TD8RNJl-NBk A fight broke out in one of the stands at the Stade de France…