Following nation-wide uproar and calls from both Democrats and Republicans to end family separations at the border, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to stop once and for all the separation of immigrant children from their parents.
The measure would allow children to stay in detention with parents for an extended period of time. The measure, Trump said, would ensure that children stay with their parents and enforces, at the same time, border security. The President added that his administration will, nonetheless, continue its “zero tolerance” policy for illegal immigration.
According to Fox News, President Trump pointed out the move would soon “be matched by legislation.”
The Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy was what caused the separations, but because of a 1997 order, children cannot be detained for longer than 20 days with the adults. The President’s executive action is likely to draw a lawsuit as it is seen to be in violation of that order.
The order seeks more authority to detain families together until the end of their immigration proceedings, but also offers no special procedures for children already in custody, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. In the order, Trump also makes an effort to have families’ cases in immigration courts decided more rapidly, CNN informs.
In a statement late Wednesday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it has taken “immediate steps” to implement the President’s executive order.
“As specified in the order, families will not be detained together when doing so would pose a risk to the child’s welfare,” the statement read in part. “Additionally, as was the case prior to implementation of the zero-tolerance policy on May 5, family units may be separated due to humanitarian, health and safety, or criminal history in addition to illegally crossing the border.”
The Department of Homeland Security said that over 2,300 minors were separated from their families at the border from May 5 through June 9.
Be the first to comment