Senate hopeful and former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney said Monday the U.S. needs a “more compassionate answer” to addressing border security than the Trump administration’s zero tolerance approach.
Responding to a tweet from former first lady Laura Bush condemning the administration’s current policy, Romney said, “I agree that we need a more compassionate answer.”
I agree that we need a more compassionate answer. https://t.co/3NOPEF0G3o
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) June 18, 2018
Bush published an op-ed in the Washington Post on Sunday calling the administration’s zero tolerance approach “cruel” and “immoral.”
She also compared the policy to the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II.
Under the zero tolerance policy, illegal immigrants who are apprehended crossing the border are referred to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution. The change has led to an increase in the number of children who are separated from their parents and guardians while they are being prosecuted.
[Related: Trump administration could be holding 30,000 border kids by August, officials say]
Parents who seek to enter the U.S. between ports of entry and claim asylum once they are apprehended are referred due to illegal entry.
The policy from the Trump administration has led to backlash from Republicans and Democrats, who say children should be able to remain with their parents.
But the Trump administration has defended its approach, saying illegal immigrants should know they will be prosecuted, and subsequently separated from their children, if they enter the U.S. illegally.
Administration officials say U.S. citizens who commit crimes face the same risk.
