Trump faces Father’s Day pleas to end separations of migrant families

Numerous Democratic lawmakers and immigration advocates used the Father’s Day holiday on Sunday to amplify calls for an end to the Trump administration’s policy of separating migrant families who cross the U.S.–Mexico border illegally. 

A wave of Democrats took to Twitter to declare Sunday a “#FathersDayofAction.” The representatives sought to raise awareness of the Trump administration’s so-called zero tolerance policy and to pressure President Trump and Republican leaders to end the practice. 

“This #FathersDay, the Trump Administration is CHOOSING to forcibly separate children from their parents who are legally seeking asylum. I repeat, there is NO LAW requiring this,” Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) tweeted.

This #FathersDay, the Trump Administration is CHOOSING to forcibly separate children from their parents who are legally seeking asylum. I repeat, there is NO LAW requiring this. #FathersDayofAction #FamilesBelongTogether pic.twitter.com/WVIIhJNXVO

— Senator Bob Menendez (@SenatorMenendez) June 17, 2018

{mosads}”This Father’s Day, I can’t stop thinking about the children being separated from their parents by the Trump administration,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) tweeted. “It’s time for Congress to pass the #KeepFamiliesTogether Act to put a stop to this inhumane policy.”

This Father’s Day, I can’t stop thinking about the children being separated from their parents by the Trump administration.

It’s time for Congress to pass the #KeepFamiliesTogether Act to put a stop to this inhumane policy.

Add your name if you agree: https://t.co/qvSKayrjHh

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 17, 2018

“As @realDonaldTrump celebrates #FathersDay, I urge him to rethink the hardline immigration rhetoric put forth by his Administration that creates an environment of unjust racial bias, distrust, profiling & the separation of families,” Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) tweeted.

As @realDonaldTrump celebrates #FathersDay, I urge him to rethink the hardline immigration rhetoric put forth by his Administration that creates an environment of unjust racial bias, distrust, profiling & the separation of families. #FamiliesBelongTogether #FathersDayOfAction

— Adriano Espaillat (@RepEspaillat) June 17, 2018

Some lawmakers took the fight to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) by responding to his tweet commemorating Father’s Day.

“Happy early #FathersDay to those who didn’t have our kids ripped away from us by the new @realDonaldTrump family separation policy that is being enabled by @SpeakerRyan,” Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) tweeted.

Happy early #FathersDay to those who didn’t have our kids ripped away from us by the new @realDonaldTrump family separation policy that is being enabled by @SpeakerRyan. https://t.co/g52tqMrDmI

— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) June 17, 2018

Ryan is among the group of Republican lawmakers who have said they oppose the policy that separates children from their parents at the border.

While Trump and White House officials have blamed Democrats for the policy, the practice was enacted earlier this year when Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the Department of Justice would criminally prosecute all adults attempting to cross the U.S.–Mexico border illegally.

Sessions acknowledged the process could lead to children being separated from their parents upon being apprehended.

Trump administration officials have repeatedly defended the policy, arguing that it acts as a deterrent against illegal immigration. 

While Democrats and Republicans have spoken out against the practice, the White House has indicated it does not intend to end the policy unilaterally.

As part of an effort to raise awareness and push back against the policy, lawmakers have toured holding facilities where migrants are being kept. A group of House Democrats visited an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in New Jersey on Sunday morning.

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) is scheduled to lead a group of congressional lawmakers on a tour of a Brownsville, Texas, facility later on Sunday.

“This #FathersDay, I’m thinking of when my kids were young & how impossibly awful the idea of losing them would have been. Ripping children away from parents is cruel. We need a #FathersDayOfAction to #KeepFamiliesTogether – & that’s why I’m headed back to the TX border right now,” Merkley tweeted.

This #FathersDay, I’m thinking of when my kids were young & how impossibly awful the idea of losing them would have been. Ripping children away from parents is cruel. We need a #FathersDayOfAction to #KeepFamiliesTogether – & that’s why I’m headed back to the TX border right now. pic.twitter.com/GPcENnTTwQ

— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) June 17, 2018

A number of other Democrats and immigration advocates did not mention the president directly, but still used Father’s Day to voice opposition to the administration’s policy.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) asked the acting inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security to look into the treatment of immigrant families.

This #FathersDay the separation of children from their parents at the border weighs heavily on our nation’s conscience. I’m calling on the Dept of Homeland Security’s Inspector General to investigate the disgraceful and inhumane tactics used by ICE. pic.twitter.com/uxps7r3vt3

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 17, 2018

Chelsea Clinton tweeted that “no parent, no person” should support the separation of families. 

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