Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said Wednesday he doesn’t understand how separating children from parents crossing into the U.S. illegally helps with border security.
“[C]hildren being ripped away from their parents, I don’t quite see how that’s congruent with what the real threat is, which are terrorists, druggies, etc,” Clapper told CNN. “I don’t see how this particular program contributes to enhanced security. I get it, on the need for border security, no question about it. But there has got to be a better way than this.”
“I don’t see how this particular program contributes to enhanced security … There has got to be a better way” – James Clapper, Fmr. Dir. of National Intelligence, speaks out against the zero tolerance border policy https://t.co/eHG3ZMwIlT pic.twitter.com/ke9KmX5vgg
— New Day (@NewDay) June 20, 2018
The Trump administration has said in past years, illegal immigrants would be apprehended if they showed up alone, but would be released if they showed up with children. Attorney General Jeff Sessions wrote late Tuesday that this led immigrants to show up with children to avoid prosecution.
Still, both Republicans and Democrats have objected to the practice, and some support legislation that would allow families to stay together while the adults are prosecuted.
Trump has said Congress could change this policy if it really wanted to keep families together while still ensuring security of the southern border.
[Also read: New York to sue Trump administration over family separations at the border]
It is the Democrats fault for being weak and ineffective with Boarder Security and Crime. Tell them to start thinking about the people devastated by Crime coming from illegal immigration. Change the laws!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 18, 2018
Democrats are the problem. They don’t care about crime and want illegal immigrants, no matter how bad they may be, to pour into and infest our Country, like MS-13. They can’t win on their terrible policies, so they view them as potential voters!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 19, 2018
