Amnesty International Blasts Trump’s Family Separation Policy: ‘This Is Nothing Short Of Torture’

Amnesty International on Monday blasted the Trump administration’s “spectacularly cruel” policy of separating children from their parents at the border, calling it “nothing short of torture.”

“This is a spectacularly cruel policy, where frightened children are being ripped from their parent’s arms and taken to overflowing detention centers, which are effectively cages,” the human rights organization said in a statement.

“This is nothing short of torture. The severe mental suffering that officials have intentionally inflicted on these families for coercive purposes means that these acts meet the definitions of torture under both US and international law,” the statement added.

The Hill added:

President Trump on Monday doubled down in defending his administration’s so-called zero tolerance policy, which was announced in April by the Justice Department. As part of the practice, children are separated from parents and placed in detention facilities while the adults are prosecuted for illegally entering the country.

The practice has sparked bipartisan backlash, with GOP Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) blasting the policy as “inconsistent” with American values on Sunday while Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) led a group of lawmakers to the southern border in Texas to tour the U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing centers and seek more information about how the agency processing detained migrants.

“The United States will not be a migrant camp and it will not be a refugee holding facility — it won’t be,” Trump said on Monday, adding, “Not on my watch.”

In a series of tweets, Trump called on Congress to “Change the laws!” to end his administration’s policy.

“Children are being used by some of the worst criminals on earth as a means to enter our country,” Trump said. “Has anyone been looking at the Crime taking place south of the border. It is historic, with some countries the most dangerous places in the world. Not going to happen in the U.S.”

“It is the Democrats fault for being weak and ineffective with Border Security and Crime. Tell them to start thinking about the people devastated by Crime coming from illegal immigration. Change the laws!” he said in another tweet.

Children are being used by some of the worst criminals on earth as a means to enter our country. Has anyone been looking at the Crime taking place south of the border. It is historic, with some countries the most dangerous places in the world. Not going to happen in the U.S.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 18, 2018

It is the Democrats fault for being weak and ineffective with Boarder Security and Crime. Tell them to start thinking about the people devastated by Crime coming from illegal immigration. Change the laws!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 18, 2018

BREAKING: Border Patrol @CBP just gave us this video of the detention facility we toured yesterday in McAllen, Texas. We weren't allowed to bring in cameras, or interview anyone. To be clear: this is government handout video. pic.twitter.com/Zjy80qIZFZ

— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) June 18, 2018