Against all odds, this country became yet more unrecognizable when Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Trump administration would begin purposefully separating immigrant children from their parents at the border in a misguided effort to stem undocumented immigration and smuggling.
Notwithstanding the fact that it marks an unprecedented point in American history where children are being purposefully targeted and put into danger, it is a betrayal of our core American values. This is not only a country comprised of immigrants but a nation whose identity is predicated on welcoming those seeking refuge.
This is not lost on Hillary Clinton, who served as Secretary of State under Barack Obama and ran against Trump in the 2016 election. She took to Twitter to deliver a rare, albeit audacious, rant berating this administration’s inhumane and decidedly un-American policy.
Like so many others, I am horrified and heartbroken by what is happening to immigrant kids and families because of this administration’s disastrous policies.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 1, 2018
We now know that more than 700 kids were separated from their parents between October 2017 and April 2018. As a mother and a grandmother, it’s devastating to even imagine.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 1, 2018
Not only that – this administration built on their "zero tolerance" policy earlier this month. The result? Nearly 700 more kids were separated from their families in the first two weeks of the new program. Think about that. Hundreds of families torn apart in two weeks.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 1, 2018
Muzaffar Chishti of @MigrationPolicy said something that has stuck with me.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 1, 2018
He said that “In the immigration context, the government has never taken a stand against the protection of kids in this country. For the first time, it is now formally taking a position that explicitly goes against the best interests of kids.”
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 1, 2018
It is now the official policy of the US government – a nation of immigrants – to separate children from their families. That is an absolute disgrace. #FamiliesBelongTogether.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 1, 2018
If you’re like me, there’s nothing worse than feeling helpless. So on this National Day of Action for Children (supported by groups from @ACLU to @WomenBelong to @UnitedWeDream to @MomsRising, @DomesticWorkers), visit https://t.co/cIzJoSDHvK to see what you can do to help.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 1, 2018
There is no more important test of our country than the way we treat the most vulnerable among us, especially children. We cannot turn away from what’s happening on our watch – we have to act.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 1, 2018
While the Trump administration attempts to color those attempting to enter our country – including those doing so legally to escape persecution or even death – as evil, the truth is that this policy is nothing more than an abrogation of our humanitarian responsibilities at best and blatant bigotry and xenophobia at worst.
White House Chief of Staff John Kelly inadvertently paraded this administration’s cruelty when he explained that these children “will be put into foster care or whatever.”
This administration’s assault on our ideals will be its only legacy, a blight that this nation will quickly correct. We are not Trump’s cruel immigration policy, despite his best attempts to stoke fear and anger.
Follow Brian Tyler Cohen on Facebook and Twitter.