Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen faced fierce criticism Sunday from political pundits on social media over a tweet denying the Trump administration had a policy of separating minors from their families as their guardians are prosecuted over illegal crossings of the U.S. border.
“We do not have a policy of separating families at the border. Period,” Nielsen wrote on Twitter, referring to one of the consequences of President Trump’s decision to introduce a “zero-tolerance” approach to illegal immigration in April.
We do not have a policy of separating families at the border. Period.
— Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen (@SecNielsen) June 17, 2018
The tweet triggered condemnation from the likes of former Obama White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer and Walter Shaub, who headed the U.S. Office of Government Ethics as part of the Obama administration, as well as political journalists and opinion writers fact-checking her claims.
The DHS Secretary is the government official that is supposed to speak to the nation about natural disasters and terrorist attacks. their credibility is crucial.
Instead we have a comically bad liar https://t.co/5vavVCox7X
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) June 17, 2018
Sorry, @SecNielsen, that was probably confusing. I don’t mean to be unfair. Let me try to put it in terms you’ll understand:
Liar. Period. https://t.co/wJ5bOUFlSZ
— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) June 17, 2018
Nielsen explained in a follow-up missive that the Trump administration’s position on splitting family units only applies to some cases where immigrants try to come to the U.S. between standard entry points.
“This misreporting by Members, press & advocacy groups must stop. It is irresponsible and unproductive. As I have said many times before, if you are seeking asylum for your family, there is no reason to break the law and illegally cross between ports of entry,” she wrote. “For those seeking asylum at ports of entry, we have continued the policy from previous Administrations and will only separate if the child is in danger, there is no custodial relationship between ‘family’ members, or if the adult has broken a law.”
This misreporting by Members, press & advocacy groups must stop. It is irresponsible and unproductive. As I have said many times before, if you are seeking asylum for your family, there is no reason to break the law and illegally cross between ports of entry.
— Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen (@SecNielsen) June 17, 2018
For those seeking asylum at ports of entry, we have continued the policy from previous Administrations and will only separate if the child is in danger, there is no custodial relationship between ‘family’ members, or if the adult has broken a law.
— Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen (@SecNielsen) June 17, 2018
However, the ACLU launched legal action against the Trump administration in March after learning a Congolese mother was separated from her 7-year-old daughter, despite claiming asylum legally at a U.S. entry point near San Diego, Calif. The woman was released days following the filing of the federal lawsuit, according to the Washington Post.
Outrage over family separation piqued on Sunday after reporters toured a Customs and Border Protection detention facility in McAllen, Texas, describing the conditions inside.
These images were just released by border patrol @CBP showing the McAllen, Texas detention facility that we were allowed to tour today. For now, we can only rely on what they give us. They will not allow us inside to film on our own. Why? “Privacy”; they don’t want faces shown pic.twitter.com/laZAyEHwij
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) June 17, 2018
Democratic lawmakers, led by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., also visited centers in Texas and New Jersey for a “Father’s Day Of Action” organized to push back on President Trump’s assertion that only Congress can provide a legislative fix to the situation.
Trump is expected to meet with the entire GOP caucus on Capitol Hill Tuesday to push congressional Republicans toward passing legislation that may address the family separation matter.
He tweeted Sunday on the topic, placing the onus on the Democrats. “The Democrats should get together with their Republican counterparts and work something out on Border Security & Safety. Don’t wait until after the election because you are going to lose!” he said.
The Democrats should get together with their Republican counterparts and work something out on Border Security & Safety. Don’t wait until after the election because you are going to lose!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 18, 2018
