Thompson Statement on the Administration’s Failure to Reunify Separated Families by Deadline
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s failure to reunify separated children with their families despite the court-mandated deadline of midnight last night:
“The Administration’s spin about its compliance with the court ordered mandate to reunite separated migrant families by midnight last night is completely unbelievable and unacceptable. Hundreds of these children are still in government care, far from the loving care of their families, and their fates are still unknown. Hundreds of their parents were deported, possibly unwittingly signing away their parental rights, and are now nowhere to be found. It is becoming difficult to distinguish what the Administration is doing from plain and simple kidnapping. We will not allow these children to be forgotten and continue to hold the Trump Administration accountable for what they have done.”
“For the families who have been reunited, the Administration’s scramble to comply with court orders betrays a lack of foresight and preparation. Advocates and other observers have continued to share their concerns about migrant families being forced through a terribly managed system. The Administration’s incompetence has created more bureaucratic chaos and added to the ongoing humanitarian crisis. It is shamefully obvious that the Administration never had a plan to reunite these families. This policy and how it was put into practice go completely against our American values and long history of welcoming immigrants with open arms.”
Earlier this week, House Republicans rejected a resolution that would have shined light on the Administration’s implementation of its family separation policy by requiring it to provide the specific policies and procedures used by U.S Border Patrol to screen and process migrant families.
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