Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has joined the ranks of those who harshly criticize Donald Trump's policy towards illegal migrants crossing the US border with their children. He also promised not to "play politics" over immigration policy, as Canada continues to "support human rights around the world."
At the same time, he didn't specify what steps his country would undertake to change the situation in the US where, according to the latest reports, some 2,000 children have been separated from their parents, who tried to illegally cross the US border but were caught. An audio recording from one of the juvenile detention centers has recently surfaced on the internet, revealing several kids crying and calling for their parents.
At the same time, the Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Kirstjen Nielsen stated that it is not the "zero tolerance" policy that is to blame for the current situation, but Congress, which has failed to adopt legislation closing the "loopholes."
According to her, the White House is merely following the law, which prescribes separating a child from its parents when it's in danger, when there is no evidence of parenthood (e.g. official document confirming that the adults accompanying the child are indeed its parents), or in cases where the parents have broken the law, for example by illegally crossing the border. She also assured that such treatment of migrants is not used in order to discourage the latter from crossing the US border.
"The children are not being used as a pawn, we are trying to protect the children," she said.
The US policy towards children of immigrants has faced severe backlash on Twitter.
It's tragic and shocking to see innocent children caged like animals at US migrant camps and to hear their cries of anguish after being forcibly separated from their parents.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) June 19, 2018
It's immoral and goes against fundamental human rights we must always respect, no matter the situation.
NOT SEPARATED…KIDNAPPED! CALL IT WHAT IT IS! THE US IS KIDNAPPING THESE CHILDREN!
— SamIAm (@Shgladd) June 19, 2018
What legacy do you think your wall will leave? A monument to that time the US separated thousands of children from parents & held them hostage?
— Alt Fed Employee (@Alt_FedEmployee) June 19, 2018
Whereas some users found the White House's arguments convincing.
When will there be outrage for all of us parents who’ve been permanently separated from our children killed by illegals? @NancyPelosi @chuckschumer. My daughter was 13 when she was killed. She would be 17 now. Feel my pain for once!
— Chris Odette (@TXVET4Justice) June 18, 2018
Most of the children detained was separated from an imposter parent/trafficker who was using the child as a shield to enter the US. We should be THANKING President @realDonaldTrump & ICE for saving these kids from these kidnappers, fake parents.
— Pastor Mark Burns (@pastormarkburns) June 19, 2018
14 year old American Justin Lee is just one of many children forgotten by Democrats. He was killed by a hit and run driver who was in the US ILLEGALLY from Mexico. Justin was separated from his family & future but not a whiff or protest from the left. AMERICANS FIRST!
— Angelo Ray Gomez (@AngeloRayGomez) June 19, 2018
US President Donald Trump initiated the so-called "zero tolerance" policy in April 2018. According to the White House, it has merely led to the Department of Homeland Security enforcing laws "by the book" and urged Congress to reform the US asylum-seeking system. At present, all irregular and undocumented migrants are sent to federal prosecution, while their children are taken from them. Over the course of April and May, some 2,000 children were taken away, with around 100 of them being under 4-years-old.
