WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump ordered an end to the separation of migrant children from their parents on the US border Wednesday, reversing a tough policy under heavy pressure from his fellow Republicans, Democrats and the international community.
The spectacular about-face comes after more than 2,300 children were stripped from their parents and adult relatives after illegally crossing the border since May 5 and placed in tent camps and other facilities, with no way to contact their relatives. Pictures and accounts of the separations sparked outrage and a rebellion among Republicans in Trump’s own party, as well as international accusation that the US was committing human rights violations.
“What we have done today is we are keeping families together,” Trump said as he signed the executive order. “I didn’t like the sight or the feeling of families being separated.” Trump said that even with the change, border enforcement will be “equally tough, if not tougher.”
For weeks, Trump had insisted he was bound by the law to split the children from their parents and that only Congress could resolve the problem – before he radically shifted gears. “We want security for our country,” Trump said.
“And we will have that – at the same time, we have compassion, we want to keep families together.” The order says the Department of Homeland Security – and not the Justice and Health and Human Services Departments, as under previous policy – would have continuing responsibility for the families.
A piece published earlier: The Business Roundtable, which represents the biggest US companies, called on the Trump administration Tuesday to “immediately” end its immigration practice of separating children from parents.“Business Roundtable urges the administration to end immediately the policy of separating accompanied minors from their parents,” said Chuck Robbins, who chairs the immigration committee for the group. “This practice is cruel and contrary to American values.” The roundtable also endorsed support for so-called “dreamer” immigrants who were brought to the United States as children, calling for legislation to protect them. And the group denounced legislation that would cut legal immigration, saying such policies “would undermine America’s economic competitiveness.”The board of the roundtable includes the leaders of JPMorgan Chase, General Motors, Johnson & Johnson, Walmart, Boeing, and IBM. The statement was released ahead of a meeting between President Donald Trump and members of Congress on immigration. Trump staunchly defended his policies in a luncheon address Tuesday before another business group, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, which represents small business.The roundtable’s statement adds to the growing chorus of critics of President Donald Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy, a group that includes lawmakers in both parties, international rights groups, Christian evangelicals and former US first ladies. The roundtable has had a mixed view of the Trump administration overall, praising the Republican president for tax cuts and regulatory reform, but sharply criticizing tariff announcements and other threats to free trade. (Published on 20th June 2018)
