Trump falsely blames Democrats as family separation policy starts dividing Republicans
(The Star Environment)

WASHINGTON—Facing a rising tide of outrage from Democrats and some Republicans over the forced separation of migrant children and parents at the U.S.-Mexico border, U.S. President Donald Trump dug in Monday, again falsely blaming Democrats in the escalating political crisis.Democrats have turned up the pressure over the policy, and some Republicans have joined the chorus of criticism. Former first lady Laura Bush has called the policy “cruel” and “immoral” while GOP Sen. Susan Collins expressed concern about it and a former adviser to Trump questioned using the policy to pressure Democrats on immigration legislation.Trump continued to cast blame on Democrats Monday, tweeting: “Why don’t the Democrats give us the votes to fix the world’s worst immigration laws? Where is the outcry for the killings and crime being caused by gangs and thugs, including MS-13, coming into our country illegally?”Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen rejected criticism accusing her department of inhuman and immoral actions.“We are doing none of those things. We are enforcing the laws passed by Congress,” she said in an appearance before the National Sheriffs’ Association in New Orleans. Like Trump, she called on Congress to reform immigration laws.Nearly 2,000 children were separated from their families over a six-week period in April and May after Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a new “zero-tolerance” policy that refers all cases of illegal item for criminal prosecution. U.S. protocol prohibits detaining children with their parents because the children are not charged with a crime and the parents are.Nielsen said that releasing parents with their children amounts to a “get out of jail free card” policy for those in the country illegally.Read more: Hundreds of children wait in large metal cages with foil blankets at Texas Border Patrol facilityU.S. practice of separating migr ...