Susan Collins says separating immigrant families ‘inconsistent with American values’

6 years ago

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins on Sunday called the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy of pressing criminal charges against immigrants and separating children from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border “inconsistent with American values” and “traumatizing” to children.

“What the administration has decided to do is to separate children from their parents to try to send a message that if you cross the border with children your children are going to be ripped away from you. That’s traumatizing to the children who are innocent victims, and it is contrary to our values in this country,” Collins said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced on April 6 that the Department of Homeland Security would refer all cases of illegal entry into the United States for criminal prosecution as part of the administration’s efforts to deter illegal immigration. The policy has resulted in a surge of children being separated from their families along the southern border.

To read the rest of “Susan Collins says separating immigrant families ‘inconsistent with American values’,” an article by contributing Bangor Daily News staff writer Christopher Burns, please follow this link to the BDN online.