Dems Joined By More Than 20 Kids On House Floor As They Call For End To Family Separations

Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday were joined by more than 20 children on the House floor as they delivered speeches calling for an end to the Trump administration’s policy of separating children from their families at the border.

“I think more powerful than anything I could say is to stand with children,” Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.) said.

“I know this is a tragic moment but this weekend I couldn’t have felt prouder to be an American,” Gutiérrez added. “I couldn’t have felt prouder about just what our exceptionalism is.”

“I saw Americans everywhere across this country standing up for children, standing up for those that are in need, standing up for moms and dads being separated,” Gutiérrez continued. “Let’s celebrate too that America sees this injustice, sees this cruelty, sees this evil and did not remain silent and that is the America that I was so happy I was born into.”

.@RepGutierrez is joined by children on floor of the House while speaking on child detentions at the border. https://t.co/fqXaNnGUpv pic.twitter.com/KtSIDZF2A3

— CSPAN (@cspan) June 20, 2018

Attorney General Jeff Sessions began implementing its “zero tolerance” policy last month, which has led to more than 2,000 children being detained separately from their parents, according to The Associated Press.

The Hill added:

Thirteen GOP senators sent a letter to Sessions asking that he pause the practice while Congress works on legislation.

Democratic lawmakers have rallied together to back legislation from Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) aimed at preventing families from being separated.