Blumenthal, immigrant families condemn separation of children at border

Posted: Jun 18, 2018 / 11:14 AM EDT

Updated: Jun 18, 2018 / 06:19 PM EDT

At least 2,000 immigrant children have been separated from their families in recent weeks, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Senator Richard Blumenthal says it’s a consequence of the Trump administration’s zero tolerance immigration policy.

Last week, News 8 introduced you to another undocumented mother who was separated from her daughter for days after being taken into custody at the border.

She told us that the conditions children are being held in are deplorable.

President Trump says securing the border is a national security issue. He’s says Congress must act to change the current policy.

“We want security for our country. If the Democrats would sit down instead of obstructing, we could have something done very quickly,” he said. “Good for the children, good for the country, good for the world.”

Senator Blumenthal says that Democrats will sponsor a bill that would end this practice of separating immigrant children from their parents, but it doesn’t have any Republican support yet.

“I’m hoping this week a number of Republicans will join because they have expressed very strong reservations. Just yesterday, Susan Collins and Lindsey Graham,” he said.

Senator Blumenthal says he hopes his Republicans colleagues will join him on a tour of the detention facilities in the coming weeks.