Trump retreats after outcry at family separation immigration policy

The fate of 2,300 children wrested from their parents at the US border with Mexico remained unclear last night, two days after US President Donald Trump ended migrant family separations, as the president accused Democrats of spinning “phony” tales of suffering for electoral gain.

While the US leader bowed to global outrage over the splitting of families, government agencies were unable to say what would happen to the children already sent to tent camps and other facilities around the country while their parents were charged with immigration offences.

Having been forced into a climbdown on the hot-button issue of immigration, Trump meanwhile swung back into fighting mode – insisting he remained committed to the “zero tolerance ”policy that aims to deter the flow of migrants from Central America.

“We mustmaintain a Strong Southern Border. We cannot allow our Country to be overrun by illegal immigrants as the Democrats tell their phony stories of sadness and grief, hoping it will help them in the elections,” he tweeted.

Accusing Democrats of “playing games,” Trump urged Republican lawmakers to “stop wasting their time on immigration” until after the November midterm polls.

The president’s comments came a day after divided congressional Republicans failed to pass one bill that promised to reform laws regarding illegal immigrants, and a second proposal was put off until next week.

First Lady Melania Trump meanwhile sought to demonstrate concern with a surprise visit to migrant children at the border Thursday, the administration remained under siege amid continued accounts of parents unable to find their children and no system in place for reuniting them. The first lady, wh ospent an hour-plus at a shelter talking to children in English or in Spanish, through a translator. was unable to escape controversy on the trip. She boarded and exited her plane wearing a $39 jacket from Zara which read “I really don’t care. Do U?” – a questionable choice of outfit that sent the internet ablaze.

In Washington, protestors demonstrated yesterdday morning outside the home of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, two days after Trump announced her department would take over the handling and processing of families at the border. They held posters reading “Child Snatcher” in large letters with photos of Nielsen, who has faced intense scrutiny as the public face of the hardline border policy.

In another move that sparked controversy, Trump on Tuesday withdrew the US from the United Nations Human Rights Council, with his representatives branding the agency an anti-Israel “cesspool.” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and UN Ambassador Nikki Haley announced the decision on Wednesday, making good on a threat Haley made in Geneva a year ago. They said their calls for change, notably to fix “hypocrisy” and “unrelenting bias” against Israel were ignored.

Membership of the council, established in 2006 to replace the disgraced Human Rights Commission, has long been controversial. Current members include Burundi, the Philippines and Venezuela – all nations accused of massive abuses against civilians. A senior Palestinian official accused the US of advancing “international anarchy” with the move.