1. Problem At The Border (Trump vs. Obama)
Trump has implemented a ""Zero Tolerance" policy to replace Obama's "Catch And Release" policy. We should all think long and hard, and weigh in appropriately.
Trump has implemented a ""Zero Tolerance" policy to replace Obama's "Catch And Release" policy. We should all think long and hard, and weigh in appropriately.
2. Which Border Crossers Trump Admin Prosecutes?
It prosecutes each and every illegal immigrant crossing the border. However, by law the process is different for those who claim asylum and those who don't. The ones who don't get processed in a day.
It prosecutes each and every illegal immigrant crossing the border. However, by law the process is different for those who claim asylum and those who don't. The ones who don't get processed in a day.
3. The ones who claim asylum get put through a due process (as is appropriate) which takes months. It has always been thus. During those months, the adult is detained and an accompanying child has to be separated per law that was passed under Clinton in 1997 (Flores Agreement).
4. Trump's latest executive order overrides that law temporarily to keep families together going forward, until Congress fixes the law permanently. Trump asked Congress to fix the law, but Democrats refused as they wanted to keep the issue alive. That's politics for you.
5. Obama's solution was to just release the illegal immigrants into the U.S. after catching them (if they had a child with them). Word got around and the flood gates opened. Presto, more and more illegal immigrants arrived accompanied by children, using children as chits.
6. Trump admin wants to remove the incentive for illegal immigrants to bring children with them for this purpose. Many children never finish the journey and die along the way. Many are not accompanied by a parent but by a professional paid agent called a coyote.
7. Obama's policy may sound good and compassionate to liberals, but it caused many deaths of children who never completed the journey to the border. Bleeding heart policies sometimes have gruesome unintended consequences. Averting your gaze doesn't make the problems go away.
8. Trump's tough love policy of "zero tolerance" will save many children's lives, but it has other consequences like the ones we are talking about now. In real life, there are always trade-offs. Well meaning people can disagree on "zero tolerance" policy.
9. But know that Obama's "catch and release" policy is what brought us to this place. More of the same won't fix anything. It will only make matters worse. So hate Trump if you must, but he is at least trying to do something about it.
10. Congress should also do its job and come up with a long term solution to the border problem. Burying our collective head in the sand is no longer an option. We as a nation have punted on the issue long enough.
11. We should all think about a long term solution and lean on our respective members of Congress to get it enacted. Calling Trump names won't fix anything. He will be gone in 2 or 6 years. The problem will still be with us. Twitter snark is easy. Real thinking is hard.
The END
The END
Those who are bothered by the separation of children from "parents" when they cross the border illegally should study the issue in some detail before weighing in. The issue is quite complicated. The below thread could serve as a tutorial.
Fake Outrage
Fake Outrage
