President Donald Trump signed an executive order to end separation of immigration families at US-Mexico border. The decision came in wake of an extensive protest against the move of Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy that separates children from their parents who illegally enter the country.
“We’re keeping families together, and this will solve that problem. At the same time, we are keeping a very powerful border and it continues to be a zero-tolerance. We have zero tolerance for people that enter our country illegally,” Trump said.
After the signing of the executive order families will be kept together in federal custody as long as their criminal proceedings take.
No clarification came from administrative officials regarding how soon the family separation will end or when and how families now separated will be reunited.
Brian Marriott, a spokesman for the Health and Human Services Department’s Administration for Children and Families, said, “It is still very early and we are awaiting further guidance on the matter. Reunification is always the ultimate goal of those entrusted with the care of unaccompanied children and the administration is working towards that for those in custody.”
Trump’s wife, Melania Trump, in private conversations with the president, urged him to do something to end the humanitarian crisis, a White House official confirmed.
Trump said, “Ivanka feels very strongly. My wife feels very strongly about it. I feel very strongly about it. I think anybody with a heart would feel very strongly about it.”
