Hillary Clinton slammed the Trump administration Friday for its policy of prosecuting illegal immigrant parents apprehended at the border with their children, and called it an “absolute disgrace” that this policy can force these families to split up.
The Trump administration announced this month it would refer illegal immigrants apprehended at the border for federal prosecution. Officials have said that policy can require the separation of families during the prosecution phase, but have said immigrants should know this is the price of trying to enter the U.S. illegally.
Recommended Stories
[Trump, Democrats fight over blame for family separation at the southwest border]
“Like so many others, I am horrified and heartbroken by what is happening to immigrant kids and families because of this administration’s disastrous policies,” Clinton tweeted. “We now know that more than 700 kids were separated from their parents between October 2017 and April 2018. As a mother and a grandmother, it’s devastating to even imagine.
“Not only that – this administration built on their ‘zero tolerance’ policy earlier this month. The result? Nearly 700 more kids were separated from their families in the first two weeks of the new program. Think about that. Hundreds of families torn apart in two weeks.”
[Also read: Twitter blasts Ivanka Trump for posting picture with son as migrant children go missing]
Like so many others, I am horrified and heartbroken by what is happening to immigrant kids and families because of this administration’s disastrous policies.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 1, 2018
Not only that – this administration built on their “zero tolerance” policy earlier this month. The result? Nearly 700 more kids were separated from their families in the first two weeks of the new program. Think about that. Hundreds of families torn apart in two weeks.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 1, 2018
Clinton shared a comment from Muzaffar Chishti of the Migration Policy Institute, who said, “In the immigration context, the government has never taken a stand against the protection of kids in this country. For the first time, it is now formally taking a position that explicitly goes against the best interests of kids.”
“It is now the official policy of the US government – a nation of immigrants – to separate children from their families. That is an absolute disgrace. #FamiliesBelongTogether,” Clinton tweeted.
It is now the official policy of the US government – a nation of immigrants – to separate children from their families. That is an absolute disgrace. #FamiliesBelongTogether.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 1, 2018
Clinton directed supporters to visit FamiliesBelongTogether.org. The group hosted a “National Day of Action for Children” on Friday in protest of Trump’s immigration policies.
“There is no more important test of our country than the way we treat the most vulnerable among us, especially children. We cannot turn away from what’s happening on our watch – we have to act,” Clinton tweeted.
There is no more important test of our country than the way we treat the most vulnerable among us, especially children. We cannot turn away from what’s happening on our watch – we have to act.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 1, 2018
