The United States and Europe “don’t share certain values,” a spokesman for the French government said, reacting to the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy for illegal border crossings.
Spokesman Benjamin Griveaux told France 2 television in an interview that he doesn’t want “what’s happening in the U.S. to happen in Europe.”
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“We do not share the same model of civilization,” he said. “Clearly we don’t share certain values.”
The Trump administration is facing backlash after implementing a policy to refer all illegal immigrants apprehended crossing the border for criminal prosecution.
Parents referred for criminal charges are separated from their children, who are sent to detention facilities.
Anger over the Trump administration’s policy reached a fever pitch this week after video footage and images released by the U.S. government showed immigrant children held in metal enclosures and sleeping on makeshift mattresses.
Audio obtained and released by ProPublica on Monday revealed children screaming for their parents.
Griveaux called the images “shocking.”
Officials with the Department of Homeland Security said Friday that 1,995 children were separated from their parents and transferred to Department of Health and Human Services facilities between April 19 and May 31.
The Trump administration has defended its policy, saying illegal immigrants should know they will be prosecuted if they cross the border into the U.S. illegally.
U.S. citizens who commit crimes face the same risk of being separated from their children, administration officials say.
