All Four Living Former First Ladies Slam President Trump's Immigration Policy Seizing Children At The Border
LIFESTYLE
All Four Living Former First Ladies Slam President Trump's Immigration Policy Seizing Children At The Border
President Trump’s Immigration reforms policy has been a major issue in America from his assumption of office and for good reason. Amongst other things, President Trump seeks to reduce the number of people relocating to the United States.
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The focus of his policies has promulgated in his insistence that Congress approve the erection of a wall across the Mexico-U.S. border. Also, the President instituted a travel ban restricting travel to the U.S. by citizens from seven countries which are predominantly Muslim.
In addition, he tried to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, a move that caused public outrage. Thankfully, a court injunction allowed DACA continue.
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More recently, in April, through Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the President announced a “zero tolerance policy” on illegal immigration. Essentially, extreme measures are being employed to ensure that people who try to gain access to the United States are prosecuted.
We don’t want what is happening with immigration in Europe to happen with us!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 18, 2018
The most disheartening aspect of the new policy is that border agents are detaining children of illegal immigrants in concentration-style camps while the U.S. justice system prosecutes their parents and guardians. Over 2,000 children have been seized from their parents and the policy is still in effect.
In a bold move, all living former first ladies of the United States have spoken against the new policy, calling it inhumane. It is an unprecedented move and speaks of the collective passion of all the women for the welfare of children, irrespective of their nationality.
Rosalyn Carter
Statement from former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter on children separated from their parents at the border: pic.twitter.com/WVg91SWutl
— The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) June 18, 2018
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Laura Bush
I live in a border state. I appreciate the need to enforce and protect our international boundaries, but this zero-tolerance policy is cruel. It is immoral. And it breaks my heart.https://t.co/he1uw1E96A
— Laura Bush (@laurawbush) June 18, 2018
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Hillary Clinton
What’s happening to families at the border right now is a humanitarian crisis. Every parent who has ever held a child in their arms, every human being with a sense of compassion and decency, should be outraged.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 18, 2018
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Michelle Obama
Sometimes truth transcends party. https://t.co/TeFM7NmNzU
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) June 18, 2018
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Not so often do former first ladies stand on common ground, especially, since they have varying political affiliations. But the recent statements by these women prove that humanity is still a common element and is reason enough for people to ignore politics, even if it is for a while.
Several celebrities are also expressing their opinions about President Trump policy and the seizing of children from their families. And most, if not all, are strongly against it.
1) Call your reps at (202) 224-3121- tell them to END the separation of families at the border (ask your Senators to pass the Keep Families Together Act and your House Rep to pass the HELP Separated Children Act).
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) June 14, 2018
“Give us your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…and we will lock their children in cages with tin-foil blankets. And scar them for life! You know: The American Dream!” pic.twitter.com/32624NB7VO
— Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) June 7, 2018
I don’t know what to do. Evil is being done right now and we are afraid to get too loud. This moment in time will define us for generations.
And people will say I am being dramatic. And I say: you are part of the problem.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) June 17, 2018
I don’t care what your politics are, we can’t be a country that separates children from their parents. Do something about this, here. https://t.co/0ozLcxxmxC
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) June 18, 2018
The new policy is very unpopular in America right now and insiders at the White House have confessed that even members of President Trump’s cabinet feel it is high handed. Donald still insists that the law requires children of illegal immigrants to be seized at the border, but his position has been proven to be ill-informed on several occasions.
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He has blamed the Democrats, saying their refusal to vote for building a wall at the U.S. border necessitated the new policy. However, Democrats and a growing number of Republicans think otherwise and insist that the policy should be reversed.
First Lady Melania Trump issued a statement that seemed to support the other first ladies, but unlike President Trump, she did not place blame on any party. Her thinly-veiled support for the reversal of the new policy has not gone unnoticed.
