>>>
>>> TODAY
>>> TODAY WAS A DOOZY. THERE IS A LOT OF UNDERSTANDABLE
CONFUSION REGARDING WHAT IS
HAPPENING WITH CHILDREN AT OUR
SOUTHERN BORDER.
SOUTHERN BORDER. >> IS THIS THE LAW?
IS IT A PRESIDENTIAL POLICY?
WHY ARE 2,000 CHILDREN BEING
SEPARATED FROM THEIR PARENTS.
PART OF THE CONFUSION COMES FROM
THE FACT THAT THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN FIVE
DIFFERENT POSITIONS ON THIS
MATTER.
MATTER.
MATTER. SO WE'RE GOING TO CUT THROUGH
THE GREECE OF THIS STORY AND --
GREASE OF THIS STORY AND GIVE
YOU THE FACTS.
>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT
BLAMES DEMOCRATS.
BLAMES DEMOCRATS. >> IT'S VERY STRONGLY THE
DEMOCRATS FAULT.
DEMOCRATS FAULT. >> Reporter: THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL BLAMES UNDOCUMENTED
PARENTS.
PARENTS.
PARENTS. >> HAVING CHILDREN DOES NOT GIVE
YOU IMMUNITY FROM ARREST AND
PROSECUTION.
PROSECUTION. >> Reporter: SECRETARY OF
HOMELAND SECURITY SAID THERE IS
NO SUCH POLICY.
THE PRESIDENT'S SENIOR POLICY
ADVISOR QUOTED BY "THE NEW YORK
TIMES" SAYS ESSENTIALLY THE
OPPOSITE OF THAT.
AND LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES ARE
CONDEMNING IT.
CONDEMNING IT. >> IT IS CONTRARY TO OUR VALUES
IN THIS COUNTRY.
>> WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS
DOING IS THEY'RE USING THE
GRIEF, THE TEARS, THE PAIN OF
THESE KIDS AS MORTAR TO BUILD
THEIR WALL.
THEIR WALL. >> Reporter: HERE ARE THE FACTS.
THERE IS NO SUCH LAW THAT STATES
CHILDREN MUST BE SEPARATED FROM
PARENTS AFTER CROSSING THE
BORDER ILLEGALLY.
BORDER ILLEGALLY. THERE'S ALSO NO SUCH POLICY FROM
MR. TRUMP DIRECTLY SAYING THIS
EITHER.
EITHER.
EITHER. SO WHAT'S HAPPENING?
WHO'S BEHIND IT?
LET'S GO.
LET'S GO.
LET'S GO. THE PRESIDENT'S LIKELY REFERRING
TO THREE DIFFERENT POLICIES FROM
PAST ERAS.
PAST ERAS. FIRST IN 1997 UNDER PRESIDENT
CLINTON, THE FLO ES SETTLEMENT
WHICH SAYS -- FLORES SETTLEMENT,
WHICH SAYS CHILDREN CAN ONLY BE
DETAINED FOR UP TO 20 DAYS.
AS OF 2016 THIS APPLIES TO
FAMILIES.
FAMILIES.
FAMILIES. IN 2008, UNDER PRESIDENT BUSH,
CONGRESS PASSED THE TRAFFICKING
VICTIMS PROTECTION AND
REAUTHORIZATION ACT.
REAUTHORIZATION ACT. THIS SAID UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN
NOT FROM CANADA OR MEXICO CAUGHT
CROSSING THE BORDER ILLEGALLY
HAD TO BE TURNED OVER FOR
RESETTLEMENT WITHIN TRY DAYS.
AND THERE'S -- THREE DAYS.
AND THERE'S IMMIGRATION LAW THAT
STATES ANY ALIEN ENTERING THE
U.S. AT A TIME OR PLACE OTHER
THAN AT PORTS OF ENTRIES IS
SUBJECT TO JAIL.
NONE OF THESE LAWS SAY TAKE
CHILDREN FROM THEIR PARENTS.
BUT THAT'S A CONSEQUENCE OF THE
BORDER POLICY KNOWN AS ZERO
TOLERANCE.
TOLERANCE. ON MAY 7TH, JEFF SESSIONS
ANNOUNCED THE NEW STRATEGY.
THIS MEANT EVERY ADULT, EVERY
ADULT, PARENT OR NOT, BONA FIDE
ASYLUM SEEKER OR NOT, WILL BE
PROSECUTED AS A CRIMINAL FOR
CROSSING OUTSIDE OFFICIAL ENTRY
POINTS.
POINTS.
POINTS. THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE BEING
PROSECUTED AS A CRIMINAL MEANS
BEING SEPARATED FROM YOUR
CHILDREN.
CHILDREN.
CHILDREN. YOU GO TO JAIL AND YOUR CHILDREN
GO TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
IN SOME INSTANCES PARENTS ARE
DEPORTED WITHOUT THEIR CHILDREN.
SIX WEEKS SINCE THE NEW
STRATEGY, NEARLY 2,000 CHILDREN
HAVE BEEN REPORTED SEPARATED
FROM THEIR FAMILIES.
MORE THAN THE PRIOR 18 MONTHS
COMBINED.
COMBINED.
COMBINED. >> OKAY.
>> OKAY.
>> OKAY. SO LET'S JUST CUT THROUGH THIS.
THE PRESIDENT CLAIMS THAT IT'S
THE DEMOCRATS FAULT, THAT THESE
CHILDREN ARE BEING SEPARATED
FROM THEIR FAMILIES.
BUT THERE ARE BILLS OUT THERE
WRITTEN BY DEMOCRATS AND
SUPPORTED BY REPUBLICANS THAT
SAY WE'RE NO LONGER GOING TO DO
THIS.
THIS.
THIS. WE'RE NOTARY PUBLIC LONGER GOING
-- WE'RE NO LONGER GOING TO
SEPARATE CHILDREN FROM THEIR
FAMILIES.
FAMILIES.
FAMILIES. NIELSEN SAID THERE ARE OTHER
IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS THEY WOULD
LIKE TO ADDRESS TOO WHICH MAKES
IT BLATANTLY OBVIOUS ALONG WITH
THE PRESIDENT'S TWITTER ACCOUNT
THAT HE'S USING THIS AS A
BARGAINING CHIP.
BARGAINING CHIP. AND THAT'S JUST THE TRUTH.
>> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT. YEAH, AND THERE'S REPUBLICAN
BILLS TOO.
BILLS TOO. PAUL RYAN WROTE A BILL THAT
WOULD END THIS RIGHT NOW.
MITCH McCONNELL SAID END THIS
RIGHT NOW, MR. PRESIDENT, WITH A
PHONE CALL WHICH WOULD ALSO LEND
BELIEF TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
>> SO MANY PEOPLE SPEAKING OUT
LIKE YOU WERE SAYING BEFORE.
>> ALL LIVING FIRST LADIES,
INCLUDING THE FIRST LADY IN
OFFICE RIGHT NOW, PUSHED BACK
AGAINST THIS.
AGAINST THIS. FAITH LEADERS, THE MORMON
CHURCH, THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH,
FRANKLIN GRAHAM, A SUPPORTER OF
THE PRESIDENT SAID STOP THIS.
>> AND SECRETARY NIELSEN SAYING
THAT IF