WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK. RETALIATORY >>> THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS
GATHERED IN CITIES ACROSS
AMERICA OVER THE WEEKEND TO
PROTEST THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION’S IMMIGRATION
ADMINISTRATION’S IMMIGRATION POLICIES.
POLICIES. FROM COAST TO COAST THERE WERE
MORE THAN 600 FAMILIES BELONG
TOGETHER RALLIES.
TOGETHER RALLIES. JOINING US NOW FROM MIAMI, MSNBC
CORRESPONDENT.
CORRESPONDENT. YOU WERE THERE WHEN A MOTHER WAS
REUNITED WITH HER 7-YEAR-OLD
DAUGHTER YESTERDAY.
DAUGHTER YESTERDAY. TELL BUS WHAT YOU SAW.
>> Reporter: MIKA, I WAS WITH
THAT MOTHER HOURS BEFORE.
SHE BROUGHT CLOTHES FOR HER
LITTLE GIRL AND A TOY AS SHE
WALKED THE HALLWAYS OF THE
AIRPORT CLINGING TO THOSE COURT
DOCUMENTS AND HER 10-MONTH-OLD
BABY BOY, AND THEN FINALLY THAT
FIRST EMBRACE.
FIRST EMBRACE. TWO MONTHS IN THE MAKING.
THIS LITTLE GIRL HAD BEEN KEPT
IN A CHILD WELFARE AGENCY IN
MICHIGAN.
MICHIGAN. THE DAD PROSECUTED AND JAILED IN
ATLANTA.
ATLANTA. HE’S FACING POSSIBLE
DEPORTATION.
DEPORTATION. SO FAMILIES SCATTERED, DUE TO
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S ZERO
TOLERANCE POLICY.
TOLERANCE POLICY. I ASKED THE MOTHER WHAT HER
MESSAGE IS TO OTHER FAMILIES
SEEKING ASYLUM.
SEEKING ASYLUM. >> WHAT’S YOUR MESSAGE?
[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> ADVISE YOU TO FIND ANOTHER
COUNTRY TO SEEK REFUGE IN.
THE LAW HERE IS TOO TOUGH.
PEOPLE HERE DON’T HAVE A HEART.
BECAUSE A SKID A TREASURE YOU
HAVE IN LIFE.
WHEN THEY TAKE IT AWAY IT HURTS
A LOT BECAUSE THE KIDS ARE A
BLESSING IN YOUR LIFE.
>> Reporter: YOU SAW ESPECIALLY
THE LITTLE GIRL’S FACE, MIKA,
WHEN ONE TALKS ABOUT THE
LANGUAGE BARRIER WITH THESE
FAMILIES, THIS GIRL’S FIRST
LANGUAGE IS MOM.
IT’S AN INDY LANGUAGE OUT OF
GUATEMALA.
GUATEMALA. BARELY SPEAKS ANY ENGLISH.
BARELY SPEAKS SPANISH.
THE TRAUMA AS HE HAD MAKES PHONE
CALLS TO HER MOTHER ASKING WHEN
THEY WILL BE REUNITED.
THEY ONLY GOT THE INFORMATION A
COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.
AGAIN THE LONG TERM TRAUMA OF A
FAMILY THAT’S STILL SEPARATED
BECAUSE THE DAD WILL BE DEPORTED
IS SOMETHING THAT ANY FAMILY CAN
I’VE WITH.
I’VE WITH. >> THERE ARE SO MANY, SO MANY
OTHERS STILL WAITING AND NOT
KNOWING IF THEY WILL HAVE THIS
MOMENT.
MOMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING ON
THE SHOW.
THE SHOW. >>> PRESIDENT TRUMP IS
CRITICIZING DEMOCRATS WHO HAVE
CALLED FOR ABOLISHING
IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS
ENFORCEMENT OR I.C.E..
LAST WEEK SENATOR GILLIBRAND AND
MAYOR de BLASIO CALLED FOR
DISMANTLING THE AGENCY.
ON SATURDAY SENATOR ELIZABETH
WARREN SAID I.C.E. SHOULD BE
REPLACED.
REPLACED. NOT ALL DEMOCRATS ARE ON BOARD.
SENATOR SCHUMER SAID I.C.E. DOES
SOME FUNCTIONS ARE NEEDED AND
PUSHED FOR REFORM.
PRESIDENT TRUMP WEIGHED IN
TWEETING DEMOCRATS ARE MAKING A
STRONG PUSH TO ABOLISH I.C.E..
ONE OF THE SMARTEST, TOUGHEST
AND SPIRITED LAW ENFORCEMENT
GROUPS OF MEN AND WOMEN I’VE
EVER SEEN.
EVER SEEN. I’VE WATCHED I.C.E. LIBERATE
TOWNS FROM THE GRASS OF MS-13
AND CLEAN OUT THE TOUGHEST
SITUATIONS.
SITUATIONS. THEY ARE GREAT.
IN A FOLLOW UP TWEET HE WROTE IN
PART TO THE GREAT AND BRAVE
WOMEN OF I.C.E. DO NOT WORRY OR
LOSE YOUR SPIRIT THE RADICAL
LEFT DEMS WANT YOU OUT.
NEXT IT WILL BE ALL POLICE, ZERO
CHANCE IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.
JOINING US NOW IS THE ACTING
DIRECTOR OF I.C.E. AND FORMING
ACTING GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY, FORMER ACTING
DIRECTOR.
DIRECTOR. >> YES.
>> YES. >> I LOOK FIRST OF ALL, GIVE US
A SENSE EXACTLY THE FUNCTIONS
THAT I.C.E. PERFORMS FOR THOSE
WHO ARE ASKING AND WHAT YOU
THINK OF THE CALL BY SOME
DEMOCRATS TO ABOLISH IT.
>> I THINK IT’S UNFORTUNATE AND
MISGUIDED.
MISGUIDED. I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION
WHEN YOU SEE POLICIES LIKE WE’VE
SEEN AT THE BORDER WHERE YOU’RE
SEPARATING KIDS, WHEN YOU SEE
THE INTERIOR IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT POLICIES WE’RE
TARGETING THE WRONG PEOPLE AND
NO LONGER GOING AFTER CRIMINALS.
I CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE THIS
FRUSTRATION STEMS FROM.
IT SHOULD BE AN ABIOLUSH TRUMP
MOVEMENT NOT I.C.E. MOVEMENT.
IT’S NOT I.C.E.’S FAULT THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION ADOPTED THESE
POLICIES.
POLICIES. >> IT’S NOT.
JEREMY PETERS, WE SEE THESE
PARALLEL -- WE HAVE THE
POLITICAL FIGHT OVER ISSUES LIKE
I.C.E. AND TRYING TO THROW THAT
INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE
CONVERSATION AND THEN YOU HAVE
THE REUNION THAT WE JUST SAW
THAT’S GOING TO BE SO HARD
FOUGHT FOR ABOUT 2,000 CHILDREN.
>> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT. >> IF THEY GET TO THIS MOMENT.
>> EXACTLY.
>> EXACTLY. SO THAT WOMAN SAID THIS COUNTRY
DOESN’T HAVE A HEART.
>> ISN’T THAT WHAT TRUMP WANTS?
>> YES.
>> YES. THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A
DETERRENT.
DETERRENT. INSIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY DESPITE WHAT
KIRSTJEN NIELSEN SAID THIS WAS
MEANT TO BE A DETERRENT.
>> KIRSTJEN NIELSEN WAS NOT
PREPARED FOR THAT BRIEFING WHEN
SHE SAID THAT WHEN SHE TOOK OVER
FOR SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS AND
PROCEEDED TO SAY EVERYTHING THIS
POLICY WAS NOT.
IT WAS NOT SENDING A MESSAGE.
THEY SENT THE MESSAGE.
YOU SAW THAT MOTHER SAYING DON’T
COME HERE, AMERICANS, THIS
COUNTRY DOESN’T HAVE THE HEART,
THIS IS NOT THE PLACE TO COME.
THAT’S WHAT TRUMP WANTS.
THAT’S WHAT THEY GOT.
>> THAT’S EXACTLY RIGHT.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, HOW TRUMP
PLAYS IN THESE CULTURE WAR
FIGHTS.
FIGHTS. HE’S CASTING THE DEMOCRATS AS
THE LAWLESS ONES.
HE’S THE LAW AND ORDER, VERY
NIXONIAN LEADER WHO WILL CRACK
DOWN ON THESE DEMOCRATS WHO
BASICALLY WANT TO TURN THE
COUNTRY OVER THE BANDS OF
ILLEGAL GANGS.
ILLEGAL GANGS. >> EXACTLY RIGHT.
I WAS CURIOUS, OKAY, DEMOCRATS,
SOME OF THEM ARE NOW SAYING
ABOLISH I.C.E..
ABOLISH I.C.E.. MR. TRUMP JUMPED ALL OVER THAT
FOR POLITICAL REASONS.
LET’S PUT THE POLITICS ASIDE.
IF YOU HAD A MANDATE TO REFORM
I.C.E., IF THERE COULD BE A
DEMOCRATIC PIECE OF LEGISLATION,
I WOULD SAY HERE’S WHAT WE WANT
TO KEEP, HERE’S WHAT WE NEED TO
CHANGE.
CHANGE. WHAT WOULD I.C.E. 2.0 LOOK LIKE?
>> WELL, I THINK I.C.E. 2.0 --
FIRST WE NEED TO LOOK HOW WE USE
IMMIGRATION DETENTION.
IMMIGRATION DETENTION. WE ADOPTED THIS CONCEPT WE HAVE
TO DETAIN PEOPLE TO BE TOUGH.
THAT’S NOT TRUE.
ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY WITH
ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION, ANKLE
BRACELETS WE CAN REUTILIZE THOSE
TECHNOLOGIES TO HAVE EFFECTIVE
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT WITHOUT
DETENTION.
DETENTION. I.C.E. DOES A LOT OF CRITICAL
WORK.
WORK. I.C.E. IS DIVIDED INTO TWO
HALVES.
HALVES. ONE HALF IS CRIMINAL SPECIAL
AGENTS.
AGENTS. WHEN I WAS THERE WE WERE DOING
AMAZING CASES LIKE SAVING
CHILDREN FROM CHILD
EXPLOITATION.
EXPLOITATION. LARGE SO FIST INDICATED MONEY
LAUNDERING CASE.
LAUNDERING CASE. THE JOAQUIN "EL CHAPO" GUZMAN
CASE.
CASE. THAT’S THE KIND OF WORK THAT
NEEDS BE EMPHASIZED.
I.C.E. IS FILLED WITH MEN AND
WOMEN TRYING TO DO A GREAT JOB
AND COMMITTED TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT’S HOW THIS ADMINISTRATION
CHOSE TO USE IT.
YOU’RE STARTING TO SEE THAT FROM
I.C.E. ITSELF.
I.C.E. ITSELF. 19 SAID BREAK US AWAY AND OUR
CRIMINAL WORK BECAUSE THE WAY
THIS ADMINISTRATION IS USING THE
AGENCY AS A WHOLE IS MAKING US
LESS EFFECTIVE.
LESS EFFECTIVE. >> DIRECTOR, YOU TOUCHED ON
ESSENTIALLY WHAT I WANTED TO
RAISE.
RAISE. ESSENTIALLY WHERE THIS
BUREAUCRACY IS COMING TO, SOME
CONTROVERSY WHEN IT BEGINS TO
PERFORM POLICE FUNCTIONS YOU
NOTICED IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE AN
INVESTIGATIVE MECHANISM.
INVESTIGATIVE MECHANISM. IN THE TRUMP ERA WE’VE SEEN
WARRANTLESS RAIDS IN OREGON AND
NEW YORK AND ON GREYHOUND BUSES
AND ARRESTS THAT ARE NOT
NECESSARILY LEGAL, ACCORDING TO
DEMOCRATIC SENATORS.
DEMOCRATIC SENATORS. IS THAT NECESSARILY AN ABUSE OF
THIS AGENCY OR IS THE AGENCY
PRONE TO ABUSE, MEANING THAT AS
IT DESIGNS TO PERFORM A LAW
ENFORCEMENT FUNCTION AND THERE
REALLY IS NO WAY TO GET RID OF
THAT AS IT IS DESIGNED?
>> IT’S A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
TO BE SURE, BUT I THINK REALLY
THE PROBLEM IS AT THE END OF THE
DAY THEY ARE TASKED WITH
ENFORCING A SET LAWS THAT THIS
COUNTRY IS DIVIDED UPON.
WE HAVE NOT MODERNIZED OUR
IMMIGRATION LAWS.
IMMIGRATION LAWS. WE PRIVATELY NEED IMMIGRATION
REFORM.
REFORM. WE HAVE 11.5 UNDOCUMENTED
IMMIGRANTS IN THIS COUNTRY WHICH
THE MAJORITY HAVE NOT COMMITTED
ANY CRIMES.
ANY CRIMES. 86% HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 2006.
WHEN YOU HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY THAT’S TASKED WITH
ENFORCING THAT LAW AGAIN THAT
POP LAYING AND YOU HAVE AN
ADMINISTRATION THAT SAYS UNLIKE
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION THAT
SAYS LET’S FOCUS ON THE BAD GUYS
THIS ADMINISTRATION SAYS LET’S
GET ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEEN HERE A LONG TIME, LET’S
SEPARATE FAMILIES.
SEPARATE FAMILIES. I THINK THE BACKLASH IS
INEVITABLE.
INEVITABLE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
ON THE SHOW THIS MORNING AND I
WANT TO GO BACK TO THE CHILDREN
AND ASK YOU WHAT ARE WE LEARNING
ABOUT WHERE THE REMAINING
CHILDREN ARE.
CHILDREN ARE. WE SAW A LITTLE GIRL.
I’VE BEEN ASKING THE QUESTION ON
AIR WHERE ARE THE GIRL, WHERE
ARE THE BABIES.
LITTLE GUARDRAIL WAS TRAUMATIZED
AND SO RELIEVED TO SEE HER
MOTHER CRYING.
MOTHER CRYING. BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER
LITTLE GIRLS, AREN’T THERE?
WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN AND
WHAT’S THE PLAN TO REUNIFY THEM
WITH THEIR PARENTS AND ARE THERE
HICCUPS IN REUNIFYING THEM ALL.
WE’VE BEEN TOLD REPEATEDLY THIS
WOULD HAPPEN.
WOULD HAPPEN. DAYS ARE TURNING INTO WEEKS.
WHY?
WHY? >> MAINLY BECAUSE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT CAN’T ANSWER THE
CRITICAL QUESTION OF HOW ARE YOU
GOING TO REUNIFY EACH AND EVERY
FAMILY.
FAMILY. JOHN WAS JUST ON.
HE SAID ON THE RECORD THAT SOME
OF THESE SEPARATIONS MIGHT BE
PERMANENT.
PERMANENT. PERMANENT SEPARATION HAPPENS, IT
HAPPENED UNDER HIS WATCH, IT
MIGHT HAPPEN UNDER THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION WATCH AND IT
HAPPENS BECAUSE ADULT CASES
MIGHT MOVE FASTER THROUGH THE
COURT SYSTEM.
COURT SYSTEM. SO YOU MIGHT HAVE SOMEONE LIKE I
TALKED TO A 17-YEAR-OLD WHOSE
FATHER IS BEING HELD IN A NEW
MEXICO FACILITY.
MEXICO FACILITY. HIS DAD MIGHT BE DEPORTED BEFORE
THE 17-YEAR-OLD’S CASE COMES UP.
AS A RESULT THE 17-YEAR-OLD
MIGHT BE STAYING HERE FOR YEARS
HEARING WHEN HE’S GOING TO GET
ASYLUM.
ASYLUM. IF YOU DEPORT THE PARENT TO A
FOREIGN COUNTRY, HONDURAS,
GUATEMALA, EL SALVADOR AND LEAVE
A 4-YEAR-OLD IN THE UNITED
STATES THAT 4-YEAR-OLD MIGHT
BECOME AN ORPHAN IN THE SYSTEM
AND END UP IN THE SYSTEM SO LONG
THAT THAT 4-YEAR-OLD ENDS UP
GETTING ADOPTED.
GETTING ADOPTED. THE OTHER THING THAT’S IMPORTANT
WHILE THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THEY
HAVE A PLAN TO REUNITE 2,000
FAMILIES, THERE HASN’T BEEN A
TRACKING SYSTEM, AT LEAST FROM
WHAT I’VE BEEN TOLD, THERE’S NO
TRACK SYSTEM THAT WILL TELL YOU
WHERE EVERY SINGLE CHILD IS.
SOME PEOPLE GOT A NUMBER, SOME
WERE PHOTOGRAPHED WITH THEIR
CHILD.
CHILD. THE AGENCY THAT IS SUPPOSED TO
BE WORKING TOGETHER, DEPARTMENT
OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN AND HEALTH
SERVICE HAVE BUREAUCRAT ISSUES
TO WORK THROUGH TO MAKE SURE
THEIR SYSTEMS WORK TOGETHER.
IT COULD BE WEEKS OR MONTHS
BEFORE THESE FAMILIES COULD BE
BACK TOGETHER.
BACK TOGETHER. >> FOR SOME NEVER.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THAT, YOU KNOW, I TRULY WILL BE
A STAIN ON THIS PRESIDENCY.
SEPARATING CHILDREN FROM THEIR
FAMILIES.
FAMILIES. IN ORDER TO THROW, PERHAPS, RED
MEAT TO THE BASE, PERHAPS NOT.
IT’S CRUEL.
IT’S CRUEL. IT’S NOT WHO WE ARE.
RICHARD, AMIDST ALL OF THIS
THERE’S AN ELECTION IN MEXICO.
TELLS US HOW THAT PLAYS INTO
THIS.
THIS. >> ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF
ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT POPULACE
ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT POPULACE WINNING AN ELECTION, VERY VAGUE
ABOUT WHAT HE’LL DO.
STANDS AGAINST CORRUPTION,
AGAINST CRIME AND SO FORTH.
WHAT’S SO INTERESTING ABOUT IT,
IT’S THE EXAMPLE ABOUT HOW
ESTABLISHMENTS HAVE BEEN
OVERWHELMED AROUND THE WORLD.
HAVE ALL SORTS OF IMPLICATIONS
FOR HIM.
FOR HIM. >> YOU KNOW HIM?
>> I DO.
>> I DO. AND THE QUESTION IS HOW
SUCCESSFUL IS MEXICO, WHETHER,
FOR EXAMPLE HE AND TRUMP TWO
POPULISTS CAN GET ALONG DESPITE
SOME OF THE RHETORIC COMING
HERE, WHETHER OR NOT NAFTA CAN
BE PRESERVED OR MODERNIZED.
IF MEXICO SUCCEEDS ON SO MANY
LEVELS IT’S GOOD FOR US.
IF MEXICO DESCENDS, IRONIC
JALGLY ENOUGH THAT WILL CREATE
ONCE AGAIN PRESSURE ON OUR
SOUTHERN BORDER.
SOUTHERN BORDER. FOR MANY REASONS IT’S IN OUR
STRATEGIC INTEREST THAT HE
SUCCEED.
SUCCEED. BUT, AGAIN, HIS PLANS ARE AT THE
LEVEL OF 36,000 FEET GENERALITY
HOW HE’LL DEAL WITH THE
PRESSURES OF OFFICE, OF
TRANSLATING THE PROMISES, BUT
WHAT YOU HAVE IS MEXICAN PEOPLE
SO FED UP WITH THE CORRUPT
FAILING ESTABLISHMENT THAT THEY
WILL TURN TO SOMEONE WHO IS A
TRUE OUTSIDER WHO CAN BE PINNED
DOWN.
DOWN. JUST SHOWS YOU WHAT HAPPENS IN
DEMOCRACIES WHEN PEOPLE FEEL
THAT TRADITIONAL POLITICS
FAILED.
FAILED. AND THEY ARE WILLING TO TURN TO
AN ALTERNATIVE AND THAT’S WHAT
WE HAVE IN MEXICO.
>> SO, COMING UP CONSERVATIVE
GROUPS BREAK WITH THE PRESIDENT
ON TRADE.
ON TRADE. AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY
COMPARED HIS TARIFFS TO PLACING
SPEED BUMPS IN FRONT OF A