Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard Statement on immigrant family separation
Listen to this articleWashington, DC — Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), the ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee and the co-chair of the Women’s Working Group on Immigration Reform, issued the following statement on today’s announcement by Attorney General Jeff Sessions about the separation of immigrant families:
“Today, the Attorney General announced that the United States will be intentionally tearing immigrant parents from their children at our Southwest border so that the parents can be prosecuted for illegal entry, even though most have come to this country to claim asylum. His announcement is unbelievably cruel, defying any standard of humane treatment.
“So many of these immigrant families are fleeing abuse, wrenching poverty, and death threats. Federal law dictates that we fully and fairly consider their asylum claims, and our American values call on us to treat them with dignity and respect. Instead, without any consideration of the harm this will unquestionably do to children who have already experienced significant trauma, this administration wants to send these asylum seekers to jail before their asylum claims can even be considered, and in the process separate mothers from daughters and fathers from sons. This decision is rooted in hatred, fear, and ignorance. It cannot be allowed to stand.”
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