Thread: DHS secretary defends Trump administration's migrant policies

DHS secretary defends Trump administration's migrant policies

06/17/18 07:10 PM EDT



Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen defended the Trump administration's migrant policies amid growing public backlash in a series of tweets on Sunday, saying the administration does not have a policy of separating families at the border.

"This misreporting by Members, press & advocacy groups must stop. It is irresponsible and unproductive. As I have said many times before, if you are seeking asylum for your family, there is no reason to break the law and illegally cross between ports of entry," Nielsen said.


Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen ✔ @SecNielsen
This misreporting by Members, press & advocacy groups must stop. It is irresponsible and unproductive. As I have said many times before, if you are seeking asylum for your family, there is no reason to break the law and illegally cross between ports of entry.
2:51 PM - Jun 17, 2018

"You are not breaking the law by seeking asylum at a port of entry," she continued. "For those seeking asylum at ports of entry, we have continued the policy from previous Administrations and will only separate if the child is in danger, there is no custodial relationship between 'family' members, or if the adult has broken a law."

Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen ✔ @SecNielsen
5h
This misreporting by Members, press & advocacy groups must stop. It is irresponsible and unproductive. As I have said many times before, if you are seeking asylum for your family, there is no reason to break the law and illegally cross between ports of entry.

Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen ✔ @SecNielsen
You are not breaking the law by seeking asylum at a port of entry.
2:51 PM - Jun 17, 2018

Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen ✔ @SecNielsen
For those seeking asylum at ports of entry, we have continued the policy from previous Administrations and will only separate if the child is in danger, there is no custodial relationship between 'family' members, or if the adult has broken a law.
2:52 PM - Jun 17, 2018

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen defended the Trump administration's migrant policies amid growing public backlash in a series of tweets on Sunday, saying the administration does not have a policy of separating families at the border.

"This misreporting by Members, press & advocacy groups must stop. It is irresponsible and unproductive. As I have said many times before, if you are seeking asylum for your family, there is no reason to break the law and illegally cross between ports of entry," Nielsen said.

"You are not breaking the law by seeking asylum at a port of entry," she continued. "For those seeking asylum at ports of entry, we have continued the policy from previous Administrations and will only separate if the child is in danger, there is no custodial relationship between 'family' members, or if the adult has broken a law."

"DHS takes very seriously its duty to protect minors in our temporary custody from gangs, traffickers, criminals, and abuse," she added.

Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen ✔ @SecNielsen
Replying to @SecNielsen
For those seeking asylum at ports of entry, we have continued the policy from previous Administrations and will only separate if the child is in danger, there is no custodial relationship between 'family' members, or if the adult has broken a law.

Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen ✔ @SecNielsen
DHS takes very seriously its duty to protect minors in our temporary custody from gangs, traffickers, criminals and abuse.
2:53 PM - Jun 17, 2018

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced earlier this year that the Department of Justice would criminally prosecute all adults attempting to illegally cross the southern border into the U.S. The policy, in some cases, would result in families who crossed together being separated.

Nielsen's tweets come as the White House faces bipartisan criticism over its practice of separating families who cross the border into the U.S. illegally.
Critics, including lawmakers, have been quick to pounce on Nielsen's tweets.

"If this isn’t the White House policy, please tell the officials who I spoke with in Tornillo today who believe it is. Either own it or change it. Scratch that - just change it," Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.) said.



Rep. Joe Kennedy III
✔ @RepJoeKennedy
If this isn’t the White House policy, please tell the officials who I spoke with in Tornillo today who believe it is. Either own it or change it. Scratch that - just change it. #KeepFamiliesTogether
Replying to @SecNielsen

We do not have a policy of separating families at the border. Period

"@secnielsen this isn’t true. I just met with officials at Border Patrol Processing Center in McAllen, Texas, who told me 1,147 children have been separated from parents at their facility," Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) tweeted.


David Cicilline ✔ @davidcicilline
.@secnielsen, this isn’t true. I just met with officials at Border Patrol Processing Center in McAllen, Texas, who told me 1,147 children have been separated from parents at their facility.
Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen ✔ @SecNielsen

Replying to @SecNielsen

We do not have a policy of separating families at the border. Period

3:50 PM - Jun 17, 2018

Walter Shaub, the ethics chief under former President Obama, also hit back at Nielsen, calling her a "liar."

Republican Sens. Jeff Flake (Ariz.) and Susan Collins (Maine) requested clarity on the policy from the Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Sevices in a letter on Sunday.

Democrats have also hit back against the family separations.

A group of Democratic lawmakers, led by Sen. Jeff Merkley (Ore.), visited the U.S.-Mexico border on Sunday to see the Customs and Border Protection processing centers, located in the Rio Grande Valley.

Sessions invoked the Bible to defend the policy on Thursday, urging law and order at the border.

“I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained them for the purpose of order,” Sessions said during a speech in Fort Wayne, Indiana. “Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves and protect the weak and lawful.”

President Trump aimed to deflect criticism on Friday, laying blame on Democrats for the policy.

"The Democrats are forcing the breakup of families at the Border with their horrible and cruel legislative agenda. Any Immigration Bill MUST HAVE full funding for the Wall, end Catch & Release, Visa Lottery and Chain, and go to Merit Based Immigration. Go for it! WIN!" the president tweeted.

Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump
The Democrats are forcing the breakup of families at the Border with their horrible and cruel legislative agenda. Any Immigration Bill MUST HAVE full funding for the Wall, end Catch & Release, Visa Lottery and Chain, and go to Merit Based Immigration. Go for it! WIN!
10:08 AM - Jun 15, 2018


http://thehill.com/homenews/administ...ve-a-policy-of

Again, illegal aliens are priority. People are saying the children should not be separated from their families but American citizens can for various reasons, including incarceration. Where are the videos and pictures of these moments of children sobbing as their mommies and daddies are taken away, killed by illegal aliens, or voluntarily leave for whatever reason. The president and the administration and surrogates need to remind people of this. They often don't do a good job of explaining and making comparisons.

The government should remain determined to stop illegal immigration and the use of children as shields for illegal entry and asylum. We can never solve illegal immigration if the laws are not enforced and changes made. The president should also stop encouraging people to come illegally with his talk of amnesty, compromise, etc.

NO ASYLUM!

STOP ENCOURAGING THEM TO SHOW UP AND OUR PORTS OF ENTRY YOU FOOL!

THEY ARE COACHED LIARS...TURN THEM AWAY...THEY NEED TO GO HOME AND SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS.

WE CANNOT GIVE 2 BILLION PEOPLE ON THE PLANET "ASYLUM"!!!

AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR IT.

It's not right at all, Americans go into debt every day because of illegal immigration. We don't even have enough tax revenue to fix our roads and bridges because of the cost to our coffers of illegal immigration.

Hey Kirstjen...process and deport them within 48 hours. Give them flyers on "how to flush a toilet" so they can teach each other back home!

WE WANT THEM DEPORTED AND OFF OUR SOIL...NO ASYLUM!

WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE TO PAY FOR THE ENTIRE WORLDS BREEDING POOR. IF THEY WANT TO ROMP IN THE DIRT AND HAVE MORE MOUTHS THEY CANNOT FEED...THAT IS THEIR CHOICE! DO NOT FORCE US TO PAY FOR IT! DISGUSTING PEOPLE!

It's actually Session's responsibility to deport them once they're in the country. Kristen's department can bounce them out at the border or near the border before they're processed for detention and prosecution.

Originally Posted by Judy

It's actually Session's responsibility to deport them once they're in the country. Kristen's department can bounce them out at the border or near the border before they're processed for detention and prosecution.

THEN BOUNCE THEM OUT OF HERE BY THE THOUSANDS!

MANY HAVE DISEASES AND HEALTH ISSUES THAT WILL REJECT THEIR CLAIMS TO COME HERE!

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE...THOUSANDS EVERY DAMN MONTH!

WE HAVE HAD IT WITH MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA DUMPING THEIR CRIMINALS AND BREEDING POOR OVER OUR BORDER!

PUT THE SCREWS TO MEXICO AND SHUT DOWN BORDER TRAFFIC TO ONE-LANE...BACK THEIR ASSES UP ALL THE WAY TO SOUTH AMERICA!

GET THEM OUT OF HERE!

AND NO DAMN DACA! GO HOME!

Yes, that is exactly what needs to be done, bounce them at or near the border.

Originally Posted by Judy

Yes, that is exactly what needs to be done, bounce them at or near the border.

Obviously that hasn't worked and won't work until the border is fully secured. Turn an illegal back at one section of the border and he'll go 5 miles down the river or to another section and try again. Unfortunately we've tried the 'turn them back immediately' thingy for decades and it doesn't work and it won't work with weak border security. At a minimum they must be processed on their first attempt and prosecuted if they attempt reentry. There has to be a deterrent.

You just want to waste our money we don't have. It's stupid to let them in. Tell them, you come back, we'll shoot you.