‘Very biblical to enforce the law’: Sanders

They also said the children were being well cared for and disputed reports of disorder and mistreatment at the border.

On Thursday, Sessions cited the Bible in defending the policy, arguing the recent criticisms were not “fair or logical and some are contrary to law.”

“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,” he said.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has backed Sessions.

“I can say that it is very biblical to enforce the law. That is actually repeated a number of times throughout the Bible,” she said. “It’s a moral policy to follow and enforce the law.”

On Friday, the Council of Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, along with the Revs. Jesse Jackson and William Barber, in separate statements, called Sessions’ use of biblical scripture incorrect.

“The Bible does not justify discrimination masked as racism, sexism, economic inequality, oppression or the abuse of children,” said the council.

The bishops called for House Speaker Paul Ryan and other Republican lawmakers to reprimand Sessions.

“Twisting the word of God in defence of immoral practices was a tactic used to justify keeping Black people in chattel slavery, committing genocide against Native Americans and segregating people under Jim Crow,” said Barber and Liz Theoharis, co-chairs of the Poor People’s Campaign, in a separate statement.

Jackson was also critical of Sessions, saying in the past, Bible verses have been used to justify various atrocities. “The government tolerated lynching just like they tolerated slavery,” said Jackson.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump ignited eleventhhour confusion Friday over Republican efforts to push immigration legislation through the House.

GOP leaders are putting finishing touches on a pair of Republican bills: a hardright proposal and a middleground plan negotiated by the party’s conservative and moderate wings. Only the compromise bill would open a door to citizenship for young immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children, and ease the separation of children from their parents when families are detained crossing the border.

“I’m looking at both of them,” Trump said Friday about the two bills. “I certainly wouldn’t sign the more moderate one.”

Top congressional Republicans and White House aides struggled to understand Trump’s comment.

However, later a White House official said Trump supported both bills.