(Bridgewater, NJ) The Trump administration is pursuing a policy of interning 2,000 children, ripped away from their parents, in detention centers at the border. Last week, Congressman Lance appeared to oppose this policy, calling for a revival of a 2014 bill sponsored by Senator Cornyn and Representative Cuellar, the HUMANE Act, claiming that it “would keep families united.” However, family separation is not mentioned once in the HUMANE Act, which instead focuses on expediting the deportation of unaccompanied children to their countries of origin by removing Bush-era protections guaranteeing minors appearances before an immigration judge or a trained asylum officer.
“The policy of family separation is cruel, lawless, immoral, and it must end unconditionally,” Malinowski said. “It should be easy for any member of Congress who opposes this horrific practice to sign on to a bill ending it. However, the bill Lance is touting does nothing to address this crisis. Once again, our Congressman is attempting to appear moderate with a distraction, all the while enabling the extreme policies of his party — and now innocent children are paying the price.”
Malinowski supports the Keep Families Together Act, sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein. The bill would end the practice of family separation and currently has 48 cosponsors in the Senate. It has not been considered by GOP leadership in the House, or received comment from Speaker Paul Ryan, who Lance eagerly supports.