JOINING YOU US ON THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN WITH THE LAWNMOWER
BEHIND YOU.
BEHIND YOU. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS WORK I
KNOW YOU HAD TO DO SOME
JUGGLING.
JUGGLING. LET ME START OFF THERE’S A LOT
TO TALK ABOUT WITH THE PRESIDENT
GOING TO THE HILL TODAY, TONS OF
TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION AND A LOT
OF TALK ABOUT THIS POLICY OF
SEPARATING KIDS FROM PARENTS.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. >> IS THAT POLICY MEANT TO BE A
DETERRENT OR NOT?
>> HALLIE, I DON’T THINK IT’S SO
MUCH MEANT TO BE A DETERRENT
IT’S JUST TRYING TO ENFORCE A
LAW.
LAW. AND LET ME GO BACK AND EXPLAIN
THIS BECAUSE I KNOW THERE’S A
LOT OF MISINFORMATION ON THIS SO
BEAR WITH ME FOR ONE SECOND.
1997 HHS WORKED WITH INS ON A
DEAL THAT SAYS HALF 48 HOURS
CHILDREN HAVE TO BE HAND OR TO
HHS AND THEN WITHIN 20 DAYS
THEY’RE TO BE RELEASED FROM
DETENTION CENTERS.
DETENTION CENTERS. 2008 THAT IS CODIFIED INTO LAW
FOR VERY GOOD INTENTIONS.
IN MANY CASE, YOUNG CHILDREN
WERE BEING USED FOR SEX
TRAFFICKING AND SO THERE WAS A
SENSE THAT, LOOK, THE FASTER WE
CAN GET THEM INTO FASTER FOSTERO
THE BETTER FOR THOSE CHILDREN.
BUT IT WAS USED AS A WAY TO GET
ACROSS THE BORDER.
KEEP IN MIND A COUPLE THINGS.
CHILDREN AND PARENTS THAT COME
INTO PORTS OF ENTRY ARE NOT
SEPARATED WHEN THEY SEEK ASYLUM.
PARENTS AND CHILDREN COMING
ACROSS ILLEGALLY ARE SEPARATED
BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO CHOICES,
ONE IS TO SEPARATE AND PROSECUTE
THE PARENT, THE OTHER IS BECAUSE
YOU’RE REQUIRED BY LAW TO
RELEASE THEM WITHIN 20 DAYS, YOU
CAN JUST RELEASE THEM INTO THE
AMERICAN SOCIETY AND HOPE THEY
COME BACK FOR COURT DATE.
OUR STATS SHOW THAT 90% NEVER
COME BACK FOR A COURT DATE.
SO WE HAVE BASICALLY TWO
CHOICES.
CHOICES. RELEASE THEM INTO AMERICAN
SOCIETY AND THEY NEVER SHOW UP
FOR COURT, OR SEPARATE AND
PROSECUTE THE PARENT BUT TAKE
CARE OF THE CHILDREN IN FOSTER
CARE.
CARE. SO THAT, I THINK THERE’S A LOT
THAT’S BEEN CAUGHT NEWSPAPER
THIS AND IT’S FINALLY BEING
BROUGHT TO LIGHT OF THE
CHALLENGES THAT CONGRESS HAS
CREATED FOR AN ADMINISTRATION TO
TRY TO EXECUTE A POLL.
>> I I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE
CHANCE TO MAKE YOUR ARGUMENT AND
TALK ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION’S
PERSPECTIVE HERE.
PERSPECTIVE HERE. SOLET ME TICK THROUGH A COUPLE
OF THINGS.
OF THINGS. WHEN YOU LOOK.
STATISTICS THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS
191 KIDS WERE BELIEVED TO BE
TRAVELING WEIGH DIFFICULTIES WHO
WERE NOT THEIR PATIENCE.
THERE WERE 2,000 PLUS KIDS
SEPARATED FROM THEIR PARENTS
CURRENTLY BEING DETAINED.
IS THE ARGUMENT, THEN, THAT THE
OTHER 1800 KIDS ARE SIMPLY THE
PRICE THAT IS PAID FOR TRYING TO
STOP PEOPLE FROM CROSSING THE
BORDER ILLEGALLY?
BORDER ILLEGALLY? IS THAT JUST THE PRICE THAT THIS
COUNTRY HAS TO PAY?
>> NO.
>> NO. NO, THAT’S NOT THE CASE WE’RE
MAKING, HALLIE.
MAKING, HALLIE. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE
THAT BE BEING USED AS PAWNS TO
GET ACROSS THE BORDER.
BUT, AGAIN, THOSE THAT ARE
COMING HERE AND SEEKING ASYLUM
AND COME TO A PORT OF ENTRY ARE
PROTECT AND KEPT WITH THEIR
FAMILY.
FAMILY. IT’S THOSE THAT ARE COMING HERE
ILLEGALLY.
ILLEGALLY. AND THE CHOICE IS DO YOU RELEASE
THEM AND SAY, HEY, SHOW UP FOR A
FEW FEWER COURT DATE.
WE HAVE SO FEW IMMIGRATION
JUDGES BECAUSE CONGRESS HASN’T
GIVEN US THE FUNDING THAT YOUR
COURT DATE IS SIX MONTHS OFF.
WE KNOW FRA FROM DATA 90% NEVER
SHOW UP.
SHOW UP. >> WHY IS THAT ANY DIFFERENT
FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE RELEASED ON
PAROLE WHO ARE EXPECTED TO SHOW
UP, CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY?
>> HALLIE, THINK THERE’S A
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHETHER OR
NOT YOU’RE A CITIZEN OR
NONCITIZEN.
NONCITIZEN. BUT I THINK THAT IN IS KAS OF
PAROLE IN MANY CASES THOSE
ACTUALLY MOVE MORE EXPEDITIOUSLY
THAN WHAT WE’RE FACING ON THE
BORDER BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE
ENOUGH IMMIGRATION JUDGES THAT
CAN GET THO THESE CASES.
>> YOU’VE MADE THE LEGAL CASE,
YOU’VE TALKED ABOUT WHERE YOU
BELIEVE THIS CASE IS FROM A
LEGAL PERSPECTIVE.
LEGAL PERSPECTIVE. LET ME ASK YOU AS A HUMAN
PERSON, JUST MORALLY AS A JUST
PERSON WHO LIVES ON THIS PLANET
ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THE
THINGS THAT YOU SEE AND THE
THINGS THAT YOU HEAR?
>> HALLIE, NONE OF US IS.
WE DON’T LIKE THE SITUATION.
>> WHY NOT STOP IT?
>> BECAUSE --
>> THE PRESIDENT COULD PUT A
PAUSE ON THIS WHILE CONGRESS --
>> WAIT A SECOND.
>> WHY DOESN’T HE DO THAT.
NO, NO, I’M CURIOUS.
>> IF CONGRESS GAVE US ACTUALLY
THE TOOLS ACTUALLY TO ADJUDICATE
IT.
IT. THEY HAVE NOT DONE THAT.
YOU SAY GIVE A PAUSE.
BUT THE LAW SAYS IN THE NINTH
CIRCUIT RULED THAT WITHIN 20
DAYS YOU MUST RELEASE THE
CHILDREN IF THE IF YOU’RE
KEEPING THE CHILDREN, YOU’RE
RELEASING THE WHOLE FAMILY.
>> WE ARE TALKED ABOUT THE 97
AND 2018 LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN IN
PLACE.
PLACE. BUT IF YOU DON’T LIKE THIS, IF
THE PRESIDENT IS NOT COMFORTABLE
WITH THIS, HE COULD STOP THIS
FROM HAPPENING IN FIVE MINUTES.
HE COULD.
HE COULD. >> HALLIE --
>> WE DOESN’T HE DO THAT.
>> WE HAVE MADE THE CASE TO
CONGRESS NOT JUST NOW BUT FOR
THE LAST 18 MONTHS TO SAY IN ANY
IMMIGRATION BILL INCLUDE A
RESOLUTION TO THE FLOOR OF THE
SETTLEMENT.
SETTLEMENT. IT IS IN THE HOUSE BILLS THAT
THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO TALK
TO THE HOUSE ABOUT TODAY IS DOES
IT PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO THIS.
THAT’S WHAT WE’VE BEEN ASKING
FOR.
FOR. >> BEING ABLE TO FIND SOME SORT
OF LEGISLATIVE FIX, I WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT I’M PARAPHRASING
YOU CORRECTLY, BEING ABLE TO
FIND A LONG-TERM LEGISLATIVE FIX
IS MORE IMPORTANT TO THIS
ADMINISTRATION THAN THE KIDS WHO
ARE BEING SEPARATED FROM THEIR
PARENTS ON THE BORDER?
>> NO, HALL.
>> I IS THAT FAIR?
>> NO, IT’S NOT.
>> WHY NOT?
>> BECAUSE RIGHT NOW YOU’RE BAIK
BASICALLY SAYING --
>> IT SEEMS TO BE WHAT YOU’RE
SAYING.
SAYING. >> LISTEN TO ME.
YOU’RE SAYING PUT A PAUSE ON IT,
BUT THE LAW STILL SAYS THAT
WITHIN 20 DAYS YOU MUT MUST
RELEASE THE CHILDREN.
SO BASICALLY YOU’RE SAYING IF IF
YOU’RE GOING TO KEEP THEM
TOGETHER THEN YOU’RE RELEASING
THE PARENTS AND CHILDREN AND
BASICALLY ALL THAT DOES IS
CONTINUE MORE IN CYCLE OF
ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO BRING
FAMILIES ACROSS THE BORDER
ILLEGALLY.
ILLEGALLY. IF YOU’RE GOING 0 GIVE US THE
TOOLS TO REPEAL THAT 20-DAY
LIMIT THEN, YES, QUESTION PUT A
PAUSE ON.
PAUSE ON. BUT UNTIL YOU DO THAT, THERE’S
NOT A CHOICE.
YOU HAVE A CHOICE OF SEPARATING
THEM AND PROSECUTING THE PARENTS
FOR BRARKING THE LAWS THE WAY
THEY ENTERED THE COUNTRY, OR YOU
CAN RELEASE THEM INTO THE
AMERICAN SOCIETY, WHICH IS WHAT
THE LAST ADMINISTRATION DID.
AND DATA SHOWED 90% NEVER SHOW
UP FOR THEIR COURT DATE SO
THEREFORE YOU’RE NOT ACTUALLY
SECURING THE BORDERS OF OUR
COUNTRY.
COUNTRY. >> THAT’S A FALSE CHOICE, RIGHT?
YOU’RE PUTTING A BINARY IN PLACE
THAT DOESN’T ACTUALLY EXIST
BECAUSE THERE IS ANOTHER OPTION.
>> IT DOES EXIST.
>> BUT WAIT A SECOND.
THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER OPTION.
THIS IS NOT FROM ME, THIS IS
FROM THE REPORTING YOU’VE DONE
FROM PEOPLE YOU’VE TALKED TO ON
CAPITOL HILL, PEOPLE I KNOW YOU
TALK TO.
TALK TO. REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WHO ARE
FURIOUS WHO SAY THERE’S ANOTHER
OPTION, THAT’S IS FOR THE
PRESIDENT TO STOP THIS PRESIDENT
WHILE THEY WORK ON A FIX.
WHY IS THAT NOT AN OPTION?
>> BECAUSE THE LAW STILL STANDS
THAT SAYS 20 DAYS, THE NINTH
CIRCUIT SAYS YOU HAVE TO RELEASE
THE CHILDREN WITHIN 20 DAYS.
THAT IS NOT BEING FIXED.
YOU CAN’T JUST PEWS IT ANDAUSE I
FIX THAT PIECE OF IT.
WHAT YOU SAID IS RIGHT, IT’S A
BINARY CHOICE, THAT’S THE
DILEMMA THAT WE FACE.
>> THAT’S NOT WHAT I SAID.
BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THIS
POLICY POTENTIALLY BEING A
DETERRENT, THAT’S WHAT SESSIONS
HAS TALKED ABOUT, KELLY HAS
TALKED ABOUT, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU
DON’T WANT TO GO THAT FAR TO SAY
THIS ISN’T A DER TERNTTERRENT.
IF IT’S NOT A DETERRENT, IT’S
NOT WORKING BASED ON WHAT WE’VE
SEEN OVER THE LAST SIX WEEKS.
WHAT DO YOU PUT PLUG?
>> WE ARE HAPPY TO CHANGE THE
POLICY WHEN CONGRESS GIVES US
THE TOOLS TO DO IT.
THAT’S WHAT WE’RE ASKING FOR IF
THE.
THE. >> WE’RE NOT USING CHILDREN AS
PAWNS IN A DETERRENT GAME.
>> YOU SAID THE WORD DETERRENT A
COUPLE MINUTES AGO.
>> WHAT EYE AM SAYINGI AM SAYING
GIVES US 20 DAYS.
THERE’S NO WAY CURRENTLY WITH
THE RESOURCES THAT THERE ARE TO
ADJUDICATE THESE CASES IN 20
DAYS.
DAYS. IF THEY GIVE US ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES THAT’S ONE WAY OR
REPEAL THE FLOOR OF SETTLEMENT
THAT WAS CODIFIED IN THE LAW OF
2008, THAT’S ANOTHER OPTION.
>> I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU’RE
TALKING ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO
THE RULES AND LAWS THAT ARE IN
PLACE.
PLACE. AGAIN, PULLING BACK MORE
BROADLY, YOU HAVE HEARD, ASSUME
YOU’VE HEARD THE AUDIO OF THE
KIDS THAT ARE OPERATESEPARATED F
THEIR PARENTS CRYING.
DOES THAT NOT DISTURB YOU?
>> OF COURSE IT DID.
>> ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH