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U.S. NEWS Saturday 16 June 2018
DHS reports about 2,000 minors separated from families

By COLLEEN LONG the arms of their frightened
Associated Press parents have flooded the
WASHINGTON (AP) — media and the policy has
Nearly 2,000 children have been widely criticized by
been separated from their church groups, politicians
families at the U.S. border and children's advocates
over a six-week period who say it is inhumane.
during a crackdown on A battle in Congress is
illegal entries, according to brewing in part over the
Department of Homeland issue.
Security figures obtained Some immigrant advocates
Friday by The Associated have said women were
Press. being separated from
The figures show that 1,995 their infants — a charge
minors were separated Homeland Security and
from 1,940 adults from Justice officials flatly
April 19 through May 31. denied. They also said the
The separations were not children were being well
broken down by age, and cared for and disputed
included separations for reports of disorder and
illegal entry, immigration mistreatment at the border.
violations or possible On Thursday, Sessions cited
criminal conduct by the the Bible in defending the
adult. policy, arguing the recent Jonathan Wilson, 33, of Scranton, Pa., holds a sign outside of a Lackawanna College were U.S.
Under a "zero tolerance" criticisms were not "fair Attorney Jeff Sessions spoke on immigration policy and law enforcement actions, Friday, June 15,
2018, in Scranton, Pa.
policy announced by or logical and some are Associated Press
Attorney General Jeff contrary to law."
Sessions, Department of "I would cite you to the
Homeland Security officials Apostle Paul and his clear
are now referring all cases and wise command in
of illegal entry for criminal Romans 13, to obey the
prosecution. U.S. protocol laws of the government
prohibits detaining children because God has ordained
with their parents because them for the purpose of
the children are not order," he said.
charged with a crime and The new figures are for
the parents are. people who tried to enter
Sessions announced the U.S. between official
the effort April 6, and border crossings. Asylum
Homeland Security began seekers who go directly
stepping up referrals in early to official crossings are
May, effectively putting the not separated from their
policy into action. families, except in specific
Since then, stories of circumstances — such as
weeping children torn from if officials can't confirm the
relationship between the
minors and adults, if the
safety of the children is in
question, or if the adult is
being prosecuted.
There were an additional 38
minors separated at ports
of entry in May through
June 6. There were more
than 55 in April and a high
of 64 in March, according
to the figures.q