Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi calling on Trump to "immediately reunite the migrant children"

[bigtree]

Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin15m5 minutes ago
Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi are calling on Trump to "immediately take all steps necessary" to reunite the migrant children who have already been separated from their parents.

In a New Letter To President Trump, Democratic Leaders Urge President Trump To Exhaust All Resources Necessary To Reunite Families Separated At The Border — Dems Say Any Delay in Doing So Is Unacceptable

In The Wake Of President Trump’s Executive Order To Keep Families Together At The Border, The Administration Has Done Nothing To Begin The Process Of Reunifying Families That Had Already Been Separated

Pelosi, Schumer To Pres Trump: Your Executive Order Is Meaningless Unless You Immediately Reunite These Children

Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today released a new letter to President Donald Trump urging him to exhaust all necessary resources in order to reunite the more than 2,300 children who have been separated from their families. Following President Trump’s executive order to keep families together at the border, the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately begin to take all the necessary steps to reunite these children with their families. In the letter, the Democratic leaders expressed their dismay at the Trump administration’s lack of action, explained the urgency behind the need to reunite these children with their families, and urged President Trump to present a plan of action to Congress in order to immediately begin the process of family reunification.

The text of the letter can be found below:

Dear Mr. President,

For the last several weeks, Americans of all political stripes have been appalled by the sounds and images of young children who were separated from their parents. That is why we were deeply dismayed to hear, in the wake of your executive order, that the Department of Health and Human Services would not immediately begin to take all necessary steps to reunite the more than 2,300 children who have been separated from their families.

It seems that the administration lacks a plan, intention, and a sense of urgency to begin reuniting these children – many of whom have suffered serious emotional anguish – with their parents. Children’s health experts, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, have condemned the practice of separating children from their parents because of the serious, long-term and permanent emotional and psychological damage that children can experience from this separation.

The administration has the authority and the resources to immediately begin the process of family reunification. Any delay in doing so is simply unacceptable. We request that the administration present its plan to Congress and the country as soon as possible, and immediately begin steps to implement it.

Such a plan must include:

_Steps to fully undo the “zero tolerance” policy, which has created such a crisis;

_Immediate action to reunify families; and

_When reunited, your administration must quickly present alternatives to detention.

These alternatives have a proven track record and are significantly cheaper for taxpayers than the artificially-prolonged incarceration of asylum seekers that only enriches private companies in the business of running prisons.

For the sake of the children, we strongly urge you to begin this process today.

Sincerely,

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

https://www.democraticleader.gov/newsroom/62118/

[Cracklin Charlie]

1. Thank you, Democrats!

More, please!

[bronxiteforever]

2. Kick and recommend and solidarity with our leaders

[duforsure]

3. Stop all other work,

Until these children are returned by this government to their parents, costs be dammed, and trump be dammed, get them back now. If we can put a man on the moon this can be done at once and get them back to their families . If they refuse, promote who's refusing every day and night on all the programs and radio stations over and over who is preventing their return to their parents. Anyone who won't , repeat it openly and often until they are forced to from the horrible things they are doing to these children. Congress can get this done no matter what trump says, and if he refuses to sign it, go back for a super majority to get it passed him, then repeat what he's done to everyone to further hurt these children . This should be everyone's top priority and work together to accomplish this for them, and our country. There's no excuse this can't be done today, period.

[RandomAccess]

5. Yes. That would be a more robust approach

[RandomAccess]

4. Sheesh

I'm glad they did it, but could they BE any more milquetoast about it?? Sounds like they're asking for pot hole reform or something equally non-emotional.

This will be incredibly easy for him to ignore.

[bigtree]

6. this isn't the beginning or end of what they've said on this, or will say in the future

...criticizing them for not including every snappy retort and list of grievances you can imagine on this formal request is silliness.

This is a solid, forceful, and dignified request from our Democratic leaders with just enough stank on it to burn.


https://twitter.com/SenSchumer

[RandomAccess]

18. Silly is calling that forceful

But whatever.

[LanternWaste]

19. Silly is also trivializing it.

Consistently.

And pretending it's supposed to be something other than what it is.

But again, whatevs...

[MineralMan]

7. If we had majorities in both houses of Congress,

those demands would have some meaning. Since we don't, they don't.

That is why a massive Democratic turnout in November is crucial.

[bigtree]

8. if they said nothing

...there would be no leadership at all from Democrats.

Calling this meaningless is a profound misstatement of our Democratic mission in our national legislature in the minority.

[MineralMan]

9. Ineffective, then, if you prefer.

I'm glad they spoke up, but it will have no effect. We need Democratic majorities in Congress. Then, we can actually affect policy.

[bigtree]

11. you hear this all the time about our Democratic minority

...while that cynical notion may well be technically true, it doesn't account for the levers of our democracy which are still mostly in place, or take into account the expressed will of the majority of Americans to reject this presidency. We advocate from outside the political system of government, and these legislators carry our concerns and interests to the point where they can be debated and, if effective, enacted.

Politics isn't a static enterprise. It's nebulous and dynamic. Indeed, the political forces will often not bend to the will of the people without strong activism and advocacy. It's no secret that politicians are as politically afraid as they are politically craven. We haven't yet had our elections suspended (as you note) and there are myriad opportunities to compel these politicians to listen to the voices of their constituents.

That check on the presidency can be switched on by a robust and challenging legislature, compelled into action by an energized and enthusiastic public. That's why it makes no sense to respond to political efforts like Eeyore, insisting that Congress is some immovable force, just because they threaten to be obstinate.

That's why I would encourage each of us to embrace the authority inherent in our citizenship; in our votes, but also in our entreaties now to our Senators and representatives; with confidence that we can positively influence the political process today.

"Government of the people, by the people, for the people."

Lincoln's words at Gettysburg, affirming the principles expressed in the Declaration of Independence, aren't just ephemeral ideals. They are immutable truths, no matter who chooses to disregard them. They are made self-evident by our participation in our democracy.

Cynicism is a luxury. We must care enough to involve ourselves in every instigation of democracy which confronts us. Our government is a reflection of everything we choose to neglect, and also every cynical impulse we project.

[MineralMan]

16. GOTV in November. Elect Democrats

There's the hope I have. Unless we do that, we will remain out of power.

[bigtree]

17. don't lose sight of what motivates people to participate in the political system

...EVERY political instigation which supports progressive causes and interests has value.

It doesn't make sense to only rally them to our party at the polls. They should be encouraged and informed of ways to support our party in power today, as well, through our Democratic legislators and our Democratic leadership.

[blake2012]

10. Good! This should be followed up by serious threats to hold up everything in congress

Until it is adequately addressed.

[bigtree]

12. kick

[Garrett78]

13. Read the letter to the press on the Capitol steps.

Every Democrat in Congress should be there. A letter gets some media attention. Reading it at a press conference gets a lot more.

[bigtree]

14. it's a good idea

...both legislators are no strangers to Capitol step advocacy.

[MiniMe]

15. The problem is that the DOJ and DHS have no idea where the kids are that match up with the parents

And some of the parents have already been deported without their kids. Even Germany in WW2 were at least good at keeping track of everybody.

[Tatiana]

20. They need to schedule a press conference.

And read the key points.

Every Democratic legislator across the state needs to be highlighting this issue --- including Red State Dems, who can highlight their own "family values" and the Republican lack of said values.