Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Trump Orders Halt to his Family Separation Rule
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 6 years ago on
June 20, 2018

Share

WASHINGTON — Bowing to pressure from anxious allies, President Donald Trump abruptly reversed himself Wednesday and signed an executive order halting his administration’s policy of separating children from their parents when they are detained illegally crossing the U.S. border.
It was a dramatic turnaround for Trump, who has been insisting, wrongly, that his administration had no choice but to separate families apprehended at the border because of federal law and a court decision.
The news in recent days has been dominated by searing images of children held in cages at border facilities, as well as audio recordings of young children crying for their parents — images that have sparked fury, question of morality and concern from Republicans about a negative impact on their races in November’s midterm elections.
Until Wednesday, the president, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and other officials had repeatedly argued the only way to end the practice was for Congress to pass new legislation, while Democrats said Trump could do it with his signature alone. That’s just what he did.
“We’re going to have strong, very strong borders, but we’re going to keep the families together,” said Trump who added that he didn’t like the “sight” or “feeling” of children separated from their parents.

‘Zero Tolerance’ Remains in Place

The order does not end the “zero-tolerance” policy that criminally prosecutes all adults caught crossing the border illegally. It would keep families together while they are in custody, expedite their cases and ask the Department of Defense to help house them.
But under a previous class-action settlement that set policies for the treatment and release of minors caught at the border, families can only be detained for 20 days. A senior Justice Department official said that hasn’t changed.
“This is a stopgap measure,” said Gene Hamilton, counsel to the attorney general. Justice lawyers were planning to file a challenge to the agreement, known as the Flores settlement, asking that a judge allow for the detention of families until criminal and removal proceedings are completed.
So Trump’s order is likely to create a fresh set of problems and may well spark a new court fight. It’s unclear what happens if no changes to law or the settlement take place by the time families reach the detainment deadline. The language also leaves room to separate children from parents if it’s best for the child’s welfare.

Government Will Start Reuniting Families

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said his department will start reuniting detained immigrant children with their parents — but he’s making no specific commitment on how quickly that can be accomplished.
Assessments for possible detention facilities at military bases have already been done in Texas and another is expected in Arkansas on Thursday.

Trump’s Family Pushed For Keeping Families Together

Trump’s family apparently played a role in his turnaround.
A White House official said first lady Melania Trump had been making her opinion known to the president for some time that she felt he needed to do all he could to help families stay together, whether by working with Congress or acting on his own.
And daughter Ivanka Trump tweeted, “Thank you @POTUS for taking critical action ending family separation at our border.”
Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen briefed lawmakers on Capitol Hill Wednesday and those on the fence over pending immigration legislation headed to the White House to meet with Trump.

Homeland Secretary Heckled, Faced Protesters

Two people close to Nielsen said she was the driving force behind the turnabout that led to the new order keeping families together. Those people were not authorized to speak publicly and commented only on condition of anonymity.
One of them said Nielsen, who had become the face of the administration’s policy, had little faith that Congress would act to fix the separation issue and felt compelled to act. She was heckled at a restaurant Tuesday evening and has faced protesters at her home.

DON'T MISS

Israeli Strikes Target Syria for a Second Day in a Row

DON'T MISS

Trump Snaps at Reporter When Asked About Abortion: ‘Stop Talking About That’

DON'T MISS

Soria Stumps Outside Polling Place. Was it Legal?

DON'T MISS

These California Toss-Ups May Decide Which Party Controls Congress

DON'T MISS

What We’ll Know and When We’ll Know It: A Guide to Election Night

DON'T MISS

Democratic Mayors in San Francisco and Oakland Fight to Keep Their Jobs on Election Day

DON'T MISS

These 8 Counties Could Hint at Where the Election Is Headed

DON'T MISS

Israel’s Netanyahu Dismisses Defense Minister in Surprise Announcement

DON'T MISS

Cryptocurrency Markets, Promoted by Trump, Brace for Election Volatility

DON'T MISS

Trump, Vance and Allies Hurl Insults at Women as Race Ends

UP NEXT

North Korea’s Long-Range Missile Test Signals Its Improved, Potential Capability to Attack US

UP NEXT

Visalia Rollerblader Suffered Major Injuries After Being Struck by Vehicle

UP NEXT

Fresno County Man Indicted for Possessing Stolen Guns

UP NEXT

On Elon Musk’s X, Dems Are an Endangered Species While GOP Goes Viral

UP NEXT

New Vehicles, Face Paint and a 1,200-Foot Fall: The US Army Prepares for War With China

UP NEXT

CNN Bars Pro-Trump Guest After His ‘Beeper’ Remark to Mehdi Hasan

UP NEXT

LGBTQ Supporters Drown Out Westboro Baptists’ Anti-Gay Message in Fresno

UP NEXT

The ‘Black Insurrectionist’ Was Actually White. The Deception Did Not Stop There

UP NEXT

Washington Post Says It Will Stop Endorsing Presidential Candidates

UP NEXT

What Happened When a Barber Told Trump About His $15,000 Electric Bill

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

These California Toss-Ups May Decide Which Party Controls Congress

1 hour ago

What We’ll Know and When We’ll Know It: A Guide to Election Night

2 hours ago

Democratic Mayors in San Francisco and Oakland Fight to Keep Their Jobs on Election Day

2 hours ago

These 8 Counties Could Hint at Where the Election Is Headed

2 hours ago

Israel’s Netanyahu Dismisses Defense Minister in Surprise Announcement

3 hours ago

Cryptocurrency Markets, Promoted by Trump, Brace for Election Volatility

3 hours ago

Trump, Vance and Allies Hurl Insults at Women as Race Ends

3 hours ago

NFL Trade Deadline: Lions Get Za’Darius Smith, Cowboys Add Jonathan Mingo

4 hours ago

Palestinians in Gaza Fear Neither Candidate in US Election Will Help Them

4 hours ago

Pennsylvania Election Officials Weighing in on Challenges to 4,300 Mail Ballot Applications

4 hours ago

Israeli Strikes Target Syria for a Second Day in a Row

JERUSALEM — The Israeli military on Tuesday said its air force had struck targets in Syria for the second day in a row, attacks it said were...

16 mins ago

The wreckage left by Israeli airstrikes in Dahieh, a predominantly Shiite suburb of south Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday, Nov. 5 2024. (Daniel Berehulak /The New York Times)
16 mins ago

Israeli Strikes Target Syria for a Second Day in a Row

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks as former first lady Melania Trump listens after they voted on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
41 mins ago

Trump Snaps at Reporter When Asked About Abortion: ‘Stop Talking About That’

1 hour ago

Soria Stumps Outside Polling Place. Was it Legal?

1 hour ago

These California Toss-Ups May Decide Which Party Controls Congress

Residents vote early in Dearborn, Mich., Nov. 3, 2024. Like in 2020, the vote count will still feature “blue mirages” or “red mirages,” in which one candidate builds a fleeting lead simply because mail or Election Day ballots are counted first. (Nick Hagen/The New York Times)
2 hours ago

What We’ll Know and When We’ll Know It: A Guide to Election Night

2 hours ago

Democratic Mayors in San Francisco and Oakland Fight to Keep Their Jobs on Election Day

Residents vote early in Dearborn, Mich., Nov. 3, 2024. While the nation awaits statewide results after the polls close on Election Day, a number of counties could provide hints on where the race is headed. (Nick Hagen/The New York Times)
2 hours ago

These 8 Counties Could Hint at Where the Election Is Headed

3 hours ago

Israel’s Netanyahu Dismisses Defense Minister in Surprise Announcement

Search

Send this to a friend