Democratic lawmakers meet detained asylum seekers on Father's Day, call for end to family separation

[Judi Lynn]

Source: ABC News


By KENDALL KARSON
Jun 17, 2018, 4:33 PM ET

A group of Democratic lawmakers toured an immigration detention facility in New Jersey Sunday, meeting with detained asylum seekers who have been separated from their families under the Trump administration’s "zero tolerance" immigration policy.

"Today, on Father’s day, we spoke to fathers whose children have been ripped from their arms, who have no idea when or if they will see their children again," Rep. Jerrold Nadler said during a press conference with reporters after the surprise visit.

The House Judiciary Committee Ranking member led the group of seven lawmakers — including Reps. Frank Pallone and Bill Pascrell of New Jersey, and Reps. Albio Sires, Carolyn Maloney, Hakeem Jeffries and Adriano Espaillat of New York — for the excursion to Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility in New Jersey.

The House members lambasted immigration officials for delaying their entry into the facility to meet with those caught illegally crossing the southern U.S. border and torn from their families as part of the administration's new approach on illegal immigration.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/democratic-lawmakers-meet-detained-asylum-seekers-fathers-day/story?id=55959670

[gademocrat7]

1. Glad they got to meet with the fathers being held there.

[SergeStorms]

2. It's all a power play by Trump.

If Democrats will cave in to financing his idiotic wall, he'll stop the wholesale detention of men, women and children. That's the way this president rolls. He doesn't care who he hurts, how many have to die or be permanently scarred, as long as he gets his way.

Donald Trump surely checks all the boxes alongside the "psychopathic dictator" check list. All of them. And in the United States, a country that used to be known for compassion. A country that used to make the correct decisions for people who couldn't make those decisions for themselves. A country that used to be known for combating the heart-wrenching wrongs perpetrated by the world's cruel and heartless dictators. We never had a government that would even consider perpetrating all of these offensive, and possible criminal, hateful actions. Until now.

This is what Republicans in our country have become. With their cult hero, Donald Trump, at the helm of our ship of state, they're cutting a horrible swath of corruption, hate and criminality across the entire world. I hope they're happy with what they've become.

[ehrnst]

3. I am proud of our Demcoratic leaders. I wish that there were more non-democrats speaking out. (nt)

Last edited Wed Jun 20, 2018, 10:49 AM - Edit history (1)