President Donald Trump showed no sign of backing down from his administration's migrant family separation policy Monday, despite mounting condemnation of the practice that threatens the political fortunes of the president and his Republican Party.
"I say it's — very strongly — the Democrats' fault. They're really obstructionist and they are obstructing. The United States will not be a migrant camp and it will not be a refugee holding facility — won't be," Trump said at an event about promoting American activity in outer space.
Trump appears to be using the White House's "zero tolerance" policy as leverage as he urges Congress to fund his proposed border wall and enact limits on legal immigration.
Even as images circulated of migrant children crying for their parents or sleeping on thin mattresses within cage-like metal structures, Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions showed no interest in abandoning the policy. Both contended that Congress needs to act to stop the practice — even though the Trump administration could do so on its own.
A new poll released Monday shows the electoral peril Trump could face in keeping up the policy. Sixty-six percent of American voters oppose separating families, while 27 percent support it, according to the Quinnipiac survey. Among independents — who will help to determine the outcome in many swing races in November — only 24 percent of voters say they back the practice, versus 68 percent who say they are against it.
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04.16.2024