AUSTIN -- Austin Congressman Lloyd Doggett says the Department of Homeland Security lied about having a policy to separate immigrant families.
This after the KVUE defenders exposed how immigrants seeking asylum were separated despite breaking no laws when they entered the U.S.
After KVUE’s story in February, members of Congress sent a letter to the Homeland Security secretary requesting the department’s policies and initiatives for separating families at the border. In response, Homeland Security claimed no such policy exists.
Then, a lot changed.
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The focus now is how to enforce the law against entering the U.S. between checkpoints, especially when migrants have children.
Current policy says zero tolerance.
We found it impacts those who also enter the U.S. legally.
“I’m very happy to be together with my wife,” said Miguel Bruce Verano when he was released from detention earlier this year.
Minna Abreu Garcia and her husband, Miguel, fled persecution in Cuba. They broke no laws when they crossed the border.
The married couple seeking asylum was separated at the U.S. port of entry in Laredo even though a Round Rock family waited to support them.
“They put a $15,000 bond as if he was a criminal,” said Minna.
That bond placed on Miguel kept the couple separated for months.
“It’s a relief. At least they’re united again,” said James Johnson, Miguel and Minna’s sponsor.
U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett says few seeking asylum in the U.S. have that help from people like James Johnson and Angela Huber.
“For most of these immigrants, couldn’t begin to post a bond of that size … KVUE spotlighted one couple and explained that this is not just numbers, this is human beings,” said Doggett.
Rep. Doggett and 75 other lawmakers asked DHS to explain its separation policy. DHS said it didn’t have one. Then, Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a zero tolerance policy.
“I found the Department of Homeland Security not be straight forward on these matters and too often not be responsive,” said Doggett.
Rep. Doggett says it’s time to stop using the love between immigrant family members as a weapon against them.
“I know we want to help people, couple by couple, person by person, but we need to address the broader issue of how these families are being separated and they are being separated very roughly,” said Doggett.
Both Democrats and Republicans want to stop separating immigrant families. Their calls come as images from inside federal detention centers have surfaced.
Not only Congressman Doggett is involved from Washington. U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz have also proposed legislation to keep families together.
And now, some Texas lawmakers like Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus and State Representative Cesar Blanco are getting involved, asking President Trump and Governor Greg Abbott Governor to take action.