Fundamental rights are “under assault like never before,” according to former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Clinton condemned the Trump administration’s zero tolerance policy to prosecute all illegal immigrants during a Friday speech in Dublin.
“We are living through an era when fundamental rights, civic virtue, even facts and reason are under assault like never before. As we have been painfully reminded in my own country, the consequences are severe,” Clinton said.
The Department of Homeland Security recently confirmed that thousands of minors attempting to enter the country between ports of entry were separated from accompanying adults after the Trump administration’s policy took effect.
She continued to say, “Over the last few weeks, Americans from every political background, ideology, and walk of life watched, heartbroken, as immigrant families were ripped apart and immigrant children were treated cruelly as political pawns.”
Trump signed an executive order Wednesday to prevent the splitting up of apprehended immigrant families. But Clinton said the order was signed in response to backlash.
“In fact, it was because of the outcry from every corner of our country that the Trump administration was finally forced to take a step to end family separation,” she said. “Though the fight is far from over and the children are not yet reunited with their families.”
The Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday that it will start keeping verified family units together, but said that those that have already been split will not be reunited until the adult’s legal case has finished.
