Following is a statement from Christine Owens, Executive Director, National Employment Law Project:

“Desperate to advance its anti-immigrant, xenophobic agenda, the Trump administration has resorted to using children and Dreamers as pawns to enact extreme anti-immigrant laws.

“The administration’s latest policy of ripping children away from their parents and subjecting families to unspeakable trauma aims to deprive immigrants of their humanity, and once again confirms that in service of advancing their hateful agenda, the Trump administration and its supporters know no limits when it comes to trampling on human rights, the rule of law, and basic American values.

“Congress must reject the two so-called ‘compromise’ immigration bills under consideration this week. The bills do not in any way solve or ameliorate the humanitarian crisis at our border. They will only fund President Trump’s wall, continue to tear families apart, harm asylum-seekers, and allow our government to incarcerate innocent children for long periods of time.

“Our leaders should instead focus on protecting families and crafting real solutions that respect every person’s dignity and hold America to the highest standards of decency and respect for human rights.”

###