Over a dozen Texas political figures and leaders have voiced their opinions on President Donald Trump's "zero tolerance" policy at the southern border, which many have claimed is responsible for separating immigrant children from their families.
According to USA Today, the Department of Homeland Security said nearly 2,000 children were separated from 1,940 adults in the six-week period from April 19 through May 31.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wrote about President Trump's "zero tolerance" policy for the first time in a letter to the Texas delegation. According to the Texas Tribune, Gov. Abbott said, "This disgraceful condition must end; and it can only end with action by Congress to reform the broken immigration system."
Austin Mayor Steve Adler tweeted on Tuesday "With over 2,000 children forcibly separated from their parents as a result of President Trump’s recently implemented “zero-tolerance” policy, it is important that bi-partisan leaders from around the country come together and stand up for family values. #keepfamiliestogether."
Austin City Council members Delia Garza, Sabino “Pio” Renteria, Greg Casar and Leslie Pool confirmed they accepted an invitation to the Texas-Mexico border Thursday in light of the "zero tolerance" separation policy, according to our partners at the Austin American-Statesman. Kathie Tovo also confirmed she would be joining. However, Adler did not say if he is going to travel with them.
Former Austin police chief and current Houston police chief Art Acevedo tweeted "As proud as I am to serve under @SylvesterTurner’s leadership, my pride grows with every stance he takes consistent with the principles & values that we, the American people, have held near & dear to our hearts for nearly 242 years. #RelationalPolicing."
Acevedo's tweet was a response to a tweet published by Mel Ragsdale Darragh, a digital content creator for the City of Houston. In her tweet, she wrote, ".@houstonpolice Chief @ArtAcevedo opposes proposed @SouthwestKey child immigration detention center. He joins community leaders voicing opposition today w/Mayor @SylvesterTurner #KeepingFamiliesTogether #familiesbelongtogether."
In an article published by the Texas Tribune, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus asked Trump to end policy of separating immigrant children.
“I know that members of Congress from both parties have proposed various ways to address this issue in the form of legislation, and while I applaud their attention to the problem, I also know that congressional action often does not come quickly," the speaker told Trump in a letter. "In order to at least begin addressing this issue, there is no need to wait for Congress to act. That’s why I respectfully ask that you move immediately to rescind the policy that [Attorney] General [Jeff] Sessions announced in April and any other policies that have led to an increase in family separations at the border."
Straus Letter by wfaachannel8 on Scribd
The Texas Tribune also reported that Ted Cruz announced emergency legislation Monday evening to keep immigrant families together after they cross the border into the United States.
"All Americans are rightly horrified by the images we are seeing on the news, children in tears pulled away from their mothers and fathers," Cruz wrote in a release. "This must stop. Now. We can end this crisis by passing the legislation I am introducing this week."
The provisions of the legislation, according to the news release, include:
- Doubling the number of federal immigration judges, from roughly 375 to 750.
- Authorizing new temporary shelters with accommodations to keep families together.
- Mandating that immigrant families be kept together, absent aggravated criminal conduct or threat of harm to children.
- Providing for expedited processing and review of asylum cases so that — within 14 days — those who meet the legal standards will be granted asylum and those who do not will be immediately returned to their home countries.
Laura Bush penned an op-ed, which appeared in the Washington Post on Father's Day. The former first lady used the holiday as a launching-off point to discuss the issue. She called the Trump administration's policy immoral and cruel.
"I live in a border state," she wrote. "I appreciate the need to enforce and protect our international boundaries, but this zero-tolerance policy is cruel. It is immoral. And it breaks my heart."
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) tweeted "Opposition to zero-tolerance to illegal immigration = tolerance of illegal immigration without a plan to enforce the law. We will provide both a way to enforce the law and a humane and compassionate family unification proposal for Congress to vote on soon."
Rep. Lloyd Doggett tweeted "President Trump, he could end this in less time than it took him to salute a North Korean general." Joined @CNN to discuss the Trump Administration's cruel new policy of family separation and how we're working to combat it. #FamiliesBelongTogether."
Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke was also on CNN, where he said "I think the American people are going to force us to do the right thing, that always happens in America … I’m confident that the American people this time are going to get it right."
After Trump signed an executive order to end the separation of families, Texas Rep. Cesar Blanco issued the following statement:
After weeks of lying to the American public that this was not his administration’s policy, President Trump has finally succumbed to mounting public pressure and outcry to end his horrific family separation policy. This inhumane, immoral, and cruel policy should never have happened in the first place. It’s just not who we are as a people or Country. It goes against our core values as Americans. After ending all family separations, our government needs to immediately right the thousands of wrongs it has committed along our border the past few months, and that begins with reuniting thousands of babies and kids with their families. This issue is far from over. We will continue fighting for these kids, for these families, and for our American values. I am urging Congress to act swiftly to finally provide permanent protections for DACA recipients, reform our asylum laws, and pass comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship for Dreamers.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also released a statement following Trump's executive order:
I support the executive action President Trump has taken today. No one wants to separate families and the president’s action will ensure that those who are crossing our border illegally are detained and our laws are enforced. I continue to urge Congress to move forward with an immigration plan that includes increased enforcement resources, a border wall, and reforms to the immigration process.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lupe Valdez tweeted a thread condemning Gov. Greg Abbott for initially remaining silent about the Texas border crisis.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller told KVUE's media partners at the Austin American-Statesman that President Donald Trump's "zero tolerance" policy at the border isn't real.
“That’s fake news,” Miller said in a phone call with the American-Statesman. “Trump has not issued a zero-tolerance policy. That’s incorrect. Untrue. Fake news.”
Miller went on to tell the Statesman that parents who have committed crimes do not get to keep their children. He said the same consequences happen for parents who have entered the country illegally.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick spoke to Fox News on June 1 about his feelings on families being separated at the Texas border. On America's Newsroom, Lt. Gov. Patrick said, "We want to keep families together, but that cannot be an excuse to break our laws. In terms of family issues, we do that with child protective services and social services in our country where we find a child in a dangerous situation."