US President Trump’s stance on immigration after separation policy

World Today

Jim Spellman

Jim Spellman

Published June 25, 2018 at 8:15 PM

The head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection said he will temporarily stop criminal referrals, which separate migrant families.

More than 2,000 are still in custody, split up from their parents. CGTN’S Jim Spellman explains the White House position.

Outrage continued to grow over U.S. immigration policy that has separated thousands of migrant children from their families.

Last week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order meant to stop the practice. According to U.S. officials, more than 500 children have been reunited with their families by Monday. Some 2,000 remain separated and transferred to facilities around the country while their parents await criminal immigration proceedings.

Some Democratic Party lawmakers have toured facilities holding some of the children. “Little girls who are 12 years old are taken away from the rest of their families and held separately, or little boys, and they’re all on concrete floors in cages. There’s just no other way to describe it. They’re big chain link cages on cold concrete floors and metal blankets handed out to people,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

Trump defended his handling of the issue by blaming Democrats for blocking attempts at comprehensive immigration overhaul that would include funding for a massive wall along the border with Mexico. “They refuse to sit down and draw an agreement that’s good for security and good for everybody. We need merit based immigration. You know, we’re taking in people that will never help us as a country,” said Trump.

But his party has failed to pass a bill in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. On Sunday, Trump suggested migrants may be denied due process of law, tweeting:

The U.S. Department of Defense will build two facilities to house families awaiting immigration proceedings. Those temporary camps would be set up at military bases along the border with Mexico. No timetable has been announced on when these facilities will be opened or when all the families will be reunited.

Dr. Ann Rosen Spector discusses the trauma of a migrant child separated from family

Growing concern about the emotional and physical well being of children separated from their parents at the U.S. border with Mexico. CGTN’s Asieh Namdar spoke with Dr Ann Rosen Spector. She’s a psychologist who focuses on trauma and recovery.