Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
RALLY PROTESTS IMMIGRATION POLICY
U.S. Rep Ted Deutch, D-West Boca, speaks at a rally in Fort Lauderdale. Politicians and school leaders were among more than 200 protesters.
The Trump administration’s support for separating migrant children from their parents continues to stoke outrage from prominent Florida lawmakers, immigration activists and other South Florida residents.
More than 200 people gathered Sunday outside of the federal courthouse in Fort Lauand derdale to denounce President Donald Trump’s push to separate immigrant children from their parents. It was the second day of protest in South Florida after a rally at a child shelter in Homestead took place the day before.
Several Democratic officials from local, state and federal offices organized the rally Sunday and called for the reunification of the children with their families.
“Only cowards resort to using children to fight their battles,” U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, said in critique of Trump’s recent comments that the practice could be a deterrent for illegal immigration. “Only a craven uses children as bargaining chips.”
Activists took over the courthouse steps Sunday with signs shirts that called for reunification of immigrant families, impeachment of Trump and defunding of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Border Patrol.
“No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here,” protesters chanted.
The family separations have hit home for Lynnete Trejos, an