The Trump administration dug in Thursday to defend its “zero tolerance” immigration policy amid criticism from faith leaders that the tougher stance is forcing the separation of families at the border.Attorney General Jeff Sessions, in a speech to police officers in Fort Wayne, Ind., cited Romans 13, imploring his “church friends” to remember the Bible passage that directs the faithful to obey the laws of the government.
“Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves,” Sessions said. “Consistent, fair application of law is in itself a good and moral thing, and it protects the weak.”
Sessions was responding to questions raised recently by faith leaders about the Trump administration’s decision to prosecute asylum seekers crossing the U.S.-Mexico border criminally rather than handling those cases as civil matters.
The issue erupted Thursday during a testy White House briefing as reporters pressed Trump spokeswoman Sarah Sanders on Sessions’ remarks and her assertion that Democrats are to blame for the administration’s “zero tolerance” policy.
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04.26.2025