Kamala Harris: Trump should send officials to testify on immigration policy separating migrant families

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) said on Saturday that the Trump administration should have its officials testify on what she dubbed “inhumane” immigration policies.

“This Administration’s immigration policies are outrageous, cruel, and inhumane,” Harris tweeted. “Proactively working to break up immigrant families is putting these kids’ lives in danger.”

{mosads}“We need to put a stop to this. Members of the Administration should come testify on this inhumane policy,” she continued.

The senator’s comments came hours after President Trump called for an end on Saturday to his administration’s policy of separating migrant children from their parents at the U.S.–Mexico border.

Trump blamed Democrats for the policy his administration has been carrying out and reignited his call to build a border wall.

Earlier this month, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced a policy dictating that adults be prosecuted separately from their children when they arrive at the U.S. border seeking asylum.

“If you cross the border unlawfully, then we will prosecute you. It’s that simple,” Sessions said. “If you are smuggling a child, then we will prosecute you. And that child may be separated from you, as required by law.”

Harris also grilled Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen earlier this month for the administration’s policy of separating families, questioning whether the policy was meant to deter illegal immigration.

Nielsen answered that she had not been directed to do so “for purposes of deterrence.”

“Senator Harris is well aware of the policy and its causes – it existed in the previous administration,” a DHS official told The Hill.

On Saturday, Harris also tweeted a clip of the hearing where she questioned Nielsen about DHS’s implementation of its immigration policy. 

“I demanded answers from DHS Secretary Nielsen about the Trump Administration’s immoral policy of separating children from their parents at the border & ports of entry last week,” Harris tweeted. “Her answers were beyond insufficient.”