Thread by @AG_Conservative

Time for some facts. There are 3 separate immigration stories that are seemingly being conflated by the media & pundits.

Story 1: ACLU report on migrants children being abused.

Story 2: Feds lost track of ~1500 minor immigrants.

Story 3: Separations of families at the border.

Story 1: This story is based on an ACLU report that covers 2009-2014. It has nothing to do with the Trump admin or separating families as it mostly relates to unaccompanied minors at the border. However, the abuses were serious and systematic. Very possible many still occurring.

Story 2: This is being covered as a scandal, but I do not believe it is one. Essentially thousands of unaccompanied minors were processed and then released to family members or others in the US. When HHS tried to check on them later, ~1500/8000 didn't respond to the survey.

There are quite a few reasons why the adults taking care of them might ignore an HHS follow up. That doesn't meant they are lost or something bad happened. The only alternative to keep track of them would be for us to keep them detained, which pro-immigration advocates oppose.

Story 3: Many families crossing the border, including those seeking asylum, are now being separated as a deterrent. The reason for this is that the Trump admin has created a policy of referring EVERY illegal border crossing for federal prosecution (even asylum seekers).

Cont.

Is it true that the Obama admin never separated families? No, Obama's admin did this too in some cases, but it happens way more often with the new policy. The Obama admin had several camps where they would detain families together while their cases were being processed.

Is this an effective deterrent? Evidence suggests that it has deterred some people, but that doesn't make it a good policy. There is a tough balance between deterrence and being humane, especially when kids are involved. Asylum seekers should be kept together imo.

To conclude: These are 3 very different stories. All of them are complex, but people who try to blend them all together or suggest they are unique to the Trump administration are either being dishonest or ignorant.

The media needs to do a better job explaining them.