Trump Regime’s Repression of Unwanted Immigrant Parents and Children
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
Trump never should have separated children from parents in the first place, a disgraceful inhumane act for any reason.
Under his new executive order, parents and children remain virtually imprisoned - together instead of in separate facilities. More on this below.
Trump’s war on unwanted immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers exceeds Bush/Cheney and Obama regime harshness.
Undemocratic Dems operate the same way as Republicans though Trump crossed a red line of unacceptability.
His policy of separating undocumented children from parents to deter unwanteds from disfavored countries entering America created a firestorm of world outrage, along with a PR disaster for his regime.
His “zero tolerance” policy turned fairness on its head. Earlier claiming Congress alone could fix the problem was a bald-faced lie.
What he authorized was way-inadequately reversed by executive order, far from undoing the mess he instituted, saying:
“We’re keeping families together but we have to keep our borders strong.”
“I’ll be signing something in a little while (which he did) that’s going to do that and the people in this room want to do that and they’re working on various pieces of legislation to get it done.”
“But I’ll be doing something that’s somewhat pre-emptive but ultimately will be matched by legislation I’m sure.”
At least four Senate measures were proposed to deal with this issue:
1. The undemocrat Dem “Keep Families Together Act” - supported by all party members. It bans family separations, except if it’s believed children are being trafficked or otherwise abused by parents.
2. A GOP “catch and release” proposal for families seeking asylum, awaiting an upcoming court date.
3. A GOP “Protect Kids and Parents Act,” creating an expedited review process, new temporary shelter facilities, and doubling the number of immigration judges from 375 to 750.
4. Another GOP proposal with provisions yet to be announced.
Instead of bipartisan cooperation to resolve this issue quickly, Dems accused Trump of creating the problem, so he needs to take the initiative to fix it until legislation is enacted.
A dozen GOP senators wrote the Justice Department, saying “(w)e support the administration’s efforts to enforce our immigration laws, but we cannot support implementation of a policy that results in the categorical forced separation of minor children from their parents.”
This type internal party pressure likely was enough for Trump to want to resolve the PR crisis he created by indifference to the welfare of vulnerable immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. His fig-leaf fix changed little. See below.
Months of Dem and GOP bickering on this issue left it festering unresolved.
Ahead of midterm elections in November, both right wings of America’s one-party state seek to gain whatever advantages are possible over each other - no matter the harm to ordinary people with no say on policymaking.
A Final Comment
Trump’s executive order leaves at least 2,300 separated children from parents in limbo.
Their parents remain in custody under harsh conditions, most virtually certain to be deported.
Reuniting children with parents leaves what’s most important unresolved.
According to Trump’s new executive order, they’ll be virtually incarcerated with parents instead of held separately - treating desperate families fleeing home countries for safety or other justifiable reasons like criminals.
Repressively detaining families needing help ahead of deporting most of them back home constitutes a crime against humanity.
Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy reflects maximum indifference to fundamental human rights, needs and welfare.
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