Trump signs order ending immigrant family separations
But president says ‘zero tolerance’ will continue
President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order on immigration that he said ends family separations at the border, but insisted his controversial policy of “zero tolerance” for illegal entry will continue.
“We’re going to have strong, very strong borders, but we’re going to keep the families together,” Trump said. “I didn’t like the sight or the feeling of families being separated.”
Vice President Mike Pence and Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen stood by as he signed the order.
“Thank you for your leadership, sir,” said Nielsen, who has become the public face of the administration’s defense of the policy.
Justice Department officials on Wednesday worked on the executive order that would halt separations, an official familiar with the matter confirmed Wednesday.
The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly, told USA TODAY that attorneys had been working on a draft for Trump’s signature since early Wednesday morning aimed at reversing policy that resulted in the separation of more than 2,000 children.
The scope of the order was not immediately clear, including whether it would address how children already separated from parents would be reunited with them. The order is primarily aimed at keeping families of future detainees together, and it’s intended as an interim measure until Congress acts.
The official said Nielsen on Wednesday huddled with White House officials to discuss options, while Attorney General Jeff Sessions worked with Justice officials on the mechanics and language of the order.
Trump has been pushing for legislative action on the issue. Nielsen reportedly believes there is little certainty that Congress will act.
The controversial detention policy, which has resulted in at least 2,000 child separations, was announced more than a month ago by Sessions.
“If you cross this border unlawfully, then we will prosecute you,” Sessions said last month in California. “If you are smuggling a child, then we will prosecute you and that child will be separated from you as required by law.”
Some of the most intense public pressure to reverse course had been applied to Nielsen and Sessions, the architect of the policy.
Late Tuesday, protesters heckled Nielsen as she ate dinner at a downtown Washington, D.C., Mexican restaurant. Sessions was rebuked by separate coalitions of state attorneys general and former federal prosecutors who called on the attorney general to halt the practice of separating children from their parents.
Sessions also was the target of public condemnation from United Methodist clergy and lay members who suggested that that actions taken by the administration and the attorney general were akin to child abuse.