Democrats blast Trump’s immigration policies
WASHINGTON — Sen. Richard Blumenthal spoke in unison with three other Democrat lawmakers on Capitol Hill Tuesday when he said Donald Trump’s immigration policies are “ripping apart families.”
Democrats blast Trump’s immigration policies
By Sarah Roach Updated 4:48 pm, Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Senate Judiciary ranking member Dianne Feinstein, (D-CA) is flanked by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) while speaking about the Keep Families Together Act, which aims to prevent the separation of immigrant children from their parents, on Capitol Hill June 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Photo: Mark Wilson / Getty Images / 2018 Getty Images
Photo: Mark Wilson / Getty Images
Image 1 of 3
Senate Judiciary ranking member Dianne Feinstein, (D-CA) is flanked by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) while speaking about the Keep Families Together Act, which aims to prevent the separation of immigrant … more
WASHINGTON — Sen. Richard Blumenthal spoke in unison with three other Democrat lawmakers on Capitol Hill Tuesday when he said Donald Trump’s immigration policies are “ripping apart families.”
His argument comes on the heels of a House scramble to garner 218 signatures for a vote later this month on bills addressing the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which President Trump canceled last year.
Democrats blast Trump’s immigration policies
By Sarah Roach Updated 4:48 pm, Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Senate Judiciary ranking member Dianne Feinstein, (D-CA) is flanked by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) while speaking about the Keep Families Together Act, which aims to prevent the separation of immigrant children from their parents, on Capitol Hill June 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Photo: Mark Wilson / Getty Images / 2018 Getty Images
Photo: Mark Wilson / Getty Images
Image 1 of 3
Senate Judiciary ranking member Dianne Feinstein, (D-CA) is flanked by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) while speaking about the Keep Families Together Act, which aims to prevent the separation of immigrant … more
WASHINGTON — Sen. Richard Blumenthal spoke in unison with three other Democrat lawmakers on Capitol Hill Tuesday when he said Donald Trump’s immigration policies are “ripping apart families.”
His argument comes on the heels of a House scramble to garner 218 signatures for a vote later this month on bills addressing the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which President Trump canceled last year.
Blumenthal, D-Conn., joined three Democratic lawmakers here urging passage of legislation to prevent immigrant families from separation at the border. He applauded the call of Sen. Dianna Feinstein, D-Calif., for a bill that would protect families at the border, saying it’s necessary to pass in the face of an administration that is “so lawless.” “Never did any of us think that the United States of America would make its official immigration policy split and scatter families,” Blumenthal said.
Democratic and moderate Republican House representatives in favor of debating the four DACA-relief bills collected close to the requisite number of signatures so far, but staunch Republicans opposed to the Obama-era program are doing everything they can to bring the movement to a halt. If the “discharge petition” did not reach its 218 required signatures by Tuesday, the legislation likely would not hit the House floor until July - the third time debate about the bills has been pushed since Trump nixed the program in March. The House would take a “queen of the hill” approach in debating a DACA measure, meaning the bill that acquires the most votes would be adopted by lawmakers.
On Capitol Hill Tuesday, Blumenthal blasted the Trump administration for a new policy that disqualifies victims of domestic abuse and gang violence from seeking asylum in the United States. The senator said the policy is “hideous and nauseous” because, in his view, it does not uphold American values.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions made the ruling Monday, sparking concern among advocates who said the policy will endanger people seeking asylum. “People will suffer, and the blood will be on Jeff Sessions’ hands,” Blumenthal said. Blumenthal also filed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act on Tuesday to bar the Trump administration from modifying military housing for children separated from their immigrant parents, citing four military bases that may be detaining children.
It’s unclear what type of bill Democrats and Republicans would agree upon for debate in the House, but lawmakers in favor of reviving the DACA program have said they’re willing to be flexible with Republicans about the legislation.
https:// www.newcanaannewsonline.com/news/article/Democrats-blast-Trump-s-immigration-policies-12988441.php