Bill Clinton hits Trump administration policy separating immigrant families in Father’s Day tweet

Former President Clinton said in a tweet on Father’s Day that he is reflecting on immigrant children who have been separated from their parents under a Trump administration policy.

“These children should not be a negotiating tool,” Clinton tweeted on Sunday. “And reuniting them with their families would reaffirm America’s belief in & support for all parents who love their children.”

On this Father’s Day I’m thinking of the thousands of children separated from their parents at the border. These children should not be a negotiating tool. And reuniting them with their families would reaffirm America’s belief in & support for all parents who love their children.

— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) June 17, 2018

His daughter, Chelsea Clinton, tweeted a similar Father’s Day message condemning the policy, which has resulted in the separation of immigrant children from their parents at the U.S. border.

{mosads}

“I also could not imagine being forcibly separated from my children as I sought sanctuary. No parent, no person should support this,” she tweeted earlier Sunday, linking to a Texas Tribune story showing pictures of a tent city housing some of the immigrant children.

Hillary Clinton also shared her husband’s tweet.

On #FathersDay & every day, I could not imagine a better dad for Charlotte & Aidan than Marc. I also could not imagine being forcibly separated from my children as I sought sanctuary. No parent, no person should support this: https://t.co/uUNs6yFklD

— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) June 17, 2018

YES! https://t.co/uFpYfOMuXn

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 17, 2018

The Trump administration imposed a “zero tolerance” policy at the border earlier this year, mandating that every adult apprehended illegally entering the U.S. be prosecuted.

Immigrant children and parents are separated while the parents are prosecuted.

The Trump administration has been widely criticized for the policy. Several Democratic lawmakers made a surprise visit to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in New Jersey on Sunday to speak with parents who have been separated from their children.

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Sunday that “nobody likes” the policy, but echoed Trump’s previous calls for lawmakers to intervene.