President Donald Trump announced that he will be signing “something” that will end his administration’s controversial practice of separating children from their parents who illegally cross the southern border.
“I’ll be signing something in a little while that’s going to do that,” he told reporters at the White House. “I’ll be doing something that’s somewhat preemptive and ultimately will be matched by legislation I’m sure.”
Trump’s decision comes after Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen arrived at the White House on Wednesday morning as the administration is weighing an executive order to end the practice.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed Nielsen was at the White House but declined to discuss her plans.
“It’s not surprising the Homeland Security secretary would be at the White House,” she said.
According to The Associated Press, Nielsen is drafting an executive action for Trump that would direct the Department of Homeland Security to keep families together in detention while they await hearings before immigration judges.
Previously, the detained migrants were facing criminal charges instead of being considered as immigrants.
The White House on Wednesday morning hinted that Trump is considering to sign a narrow piece of legislation that would end the family separations, which have generated mounting backlash at home and abroad.
Meanwhile, Speaker Paul Ryan announced that the House of Representatives would vote on a bill which would keep families arriving at the Mexican border together.
“We do not want children taken away from their parents. We can enforce our immigration laws without breaking families apart. The administration says it wants Congress to act and we are,” Ryan said. “Tomorrow the House will vote on legislation to keep families together.”
The speaker did not offer any backup plan to bring an end to family separations if measures fail to pass.
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