What Schumer likely wanted was a return to “catch and release” meaning that no one gets detained. Instead he got the opposite – everyone is now detained. Trump couldn’t resist rubbing salt in Schumer’s butt rash.
Here’s his tweet:
Don’t worry, the Republicans, and your President, will fix it! pic.twitter.com/xsbuPzXbHj
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 20, 2018
I think we have to understand that this is related to the RENO v. FLORES settlement agreement from 1997, which states (among other things) that children detained by immigration authorities must be released “without unnecessary delay” to an acceptable recipient, with parents and legal guardians preferred.
Facilities, such as those seen on the news, are other options when nothing better is available. The important takeaway here is that a minor cannot be detained while a parent is awaiting due process.
When immigration enforcers find a family that is breaking the law, they legally must either
1) Separate the family,
2) Release the family, or
3) Release the family with a court date, and hope the family appears for a trial they know they will lose.
Here’s the question ... WHY ONLY THESE OPTIONS?
What’s another missing option?
here it is — IMMEDIATELY SEND THEM BACK TO THE MEXICAN SIDE OF THE BORDER.
Why was that option never considered?