MOMENT AGO. HE SAID SIMPLY I AM ON THE SIDE
OF THE BISHOP’S CONFERENCE,
AGREEING WITH THEIR VIEW THAT IT
IS IMMORAL.
IS IMMORAL. >>> AMID THE GROWING OUTRAGE OF
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S
POLICY OF SEPARATING MIGRANT
CHILDREN FROM PARENTS A GROUP OF
DEMOCRATIC STATE ATTORNEYS
GENERAL SENT TWO LETTERS TO
ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF SESSIONS
YESTERDAY CALLING ON HIM TO
REVERSE THE POLICY.
JOINING THE CONVERSATION, THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEW MEXICO,
HECTOR BALDERAS WHO LED THAT
LETTER, AND A FORMER U.S.
ATTORNEY AND MSNBC CONTRIBUTOR
BARBARA McQUAID WHO ADDED HER
NAME TO THE PROSECUTOR’S LETTER.
GENERAL BALDERAS, LET ME START
WITH YOU, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS
THE QUICKEST AND BEST COURSE OF
ACTION TO STOP THIS POLICY RIGHT
NOW?
NOW? IS IT CONVINCING THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES TO MAKE THE
PHONE CALL THAT COULD END IT, OR
IS IT PUSHING CONGRESS TO MOVE
QUICKER THAN THE PRESIDENT
COULD?
COULD? >> I BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT
SHOULD TAKE EXECUTIVE ACTION.
HE SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING.
I DISAGREE WITH THAT LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FUNDAMENTALLY, YOU CAN ENFORCE A
LAW AND BE TOUGH ON CRIME.
WE AS BORDER AGs UNDERSTAND WE
SHOULD BE GOING AFTER HUMAN
TRAFFICKERS, DRUG SMUGGLERS AND
GUN RUNNERS.
GUN RUNNERS. THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO BE TOUGH
ON CRIME.
ON CRIME. WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON HARDENED
CRIMINALS AND ENFORCE BORDER
SECURITY.
SECURITY. BUT WE SHOULD NOT BE VIOLATING
THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND
BREAKING UP FAMILIES.
THAT’S THE FUNDAMENTAL DEBATE
HERE WE’RE MISSING WHEN WE
OFFEND THE CONSCIENCE OF OUR
COUNTRY IS THE RULE OF LAW.
WE CAN BE TOUGH ON CRIME.
WE JUST HAVE TO BE SMART.
WE CAN DO BOTH, AND WE SHOULD
NOT BE VIOLATING THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES AND THE GREATEST
DEMOCRACY AND THE GREATEST RULE
OF LAW BY OFFENDING OUR
CONSCIENCE AS WELL BY BREAKING
UP FAMILIES.
UP FAMILIES. AND THAT’S WHAT THE PRESIDENT
COULD DO.
COULD DO. THEN THE CONGRESS SHOULD TAKE
ACTION.
ACTION. AND OF COURSE IN THE END THE
GOAL OF ANY INSTITUTION
INTERNATIONAL, STATE OR FEDERAL,
IS TO DO JUSTICE.
SO WE’RE OFFENDING FAMILIES.
AND OUR IMMIGRATION, WHETHER
IT’S AN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM OR A
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WE ARE
BREAKING UP FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY
CHILDREN THAT ARE INNOCENT UNDER
THE RECALLULE OF LAW, THEN WE NE
STEP IN AS AMERICANS.
>> THIS IS A POLICY THAT WAS
IMPLEMENTED AND ARTICULATED BY
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE
UNITED STATES ABOUT FIVE OR SIX
WEEKS AGO.
WEEKS AGO. THAT’S WHEN THE UPTICK STARTED
OCCURRING OF BREAKING UP
FAMILIES.
FAMILIES. YOU’RE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF
THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.
IF THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IN INVESTIGATING A
DOMESTIC CALL AT A HOME SCOOPED
THE CHILDREN OUT OF THE HOUSE,
WOULD IT BE AGAINST THE LAW OF
NEW MEXICO FOR THEM TO DO THAT?
>> WELL, THEY WOULD WORK IN
CONJUNCTION WITH SOCIAL WORKERS
IN THAT, IN FAMILY PROTECTION
UNITS AT THAT POINT IF THE OTHER
FAMILY MEMBERS WERE SOMEHOW
VIOLATING THE LAW.
BUT THERE WOULD BE COMPASSION
AND SOME SENSE OF DISCRETION BY
LAW ENFORCEMENT.
LAW ENFORCEMENT. THEY WOULDN’T JUST BE
FUNDAMENTALLY SAYING I HAVE TO
ENFORCE THE RULE OF LAW, I HAVE
TO BREAK UP THE FAMILY AND SCOOP
UP THE CHILDREN AND THEN BLINDLY
PUT THEM IN A CAGE OR IN SOME
KIND OF A COLD JAIL SETTING AND
THEN ALSO FUNDAMENTALLY DENYING
DUE PROCESS ON BOTH SIDES AND
KEEPING EVERYONE IN THE DARK.
THAT’S JUST A BACKWARDS SYSTEM.
JEFF SESSIONS IS PLAYING KIND OF
A WORD GAME HERE.
AND THAT’S WHY I’M TALKING TO
AMERICANS TODAY.
AMERICANS TODAY. WE CAN ABSOLUTELY BE TOUGH ON
CRIME AND ABSOLUTELY BE TOUGH ON
EXPLOITATION.
EXPLOITATION. WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON HUMAN
TRAFFICKERS, GUN RUNNERS, DRUG
SMUGGLERS.
SMUGGLERS. I’M AT THE BORDER.
YOU WANT TO TALK CONCRETE AND
BUILDING WALLS, LET’S TALK ABOUT
THAT.
THAT. BUT WHEN YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT
CHILDREN CRYING AND THEN YOU’RE
PLAYING GAMES WITH INFORMATION
AND WITHHOLDING INFORMATION,
THAT’S SOMETHING THAT OUR
GREATEST CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM, OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM
RIGHT NOW DOESN’T PASS THE SMELL
TEST.
TEST. AND THAT’S WHY WE’RE GETTING
INVOLVED AS AGs.
BUT THAT’S WHERE WE’RE STARTING
THE DEBATE, BEING TOUGH ON THE
BORDER, TOUGH ON CRIME.
WE’RE NOT EVEN IN THE
CONVERSATION.
CONVERSATION. RIGHT NOW YOU ARE TERRORIZING
CHILDREN.
CHILDREN. AND WE’RE IN THE BUSINESS OF
FIGHTING TERRORISM, NOT
TERRORIZING CHILDREN.
TERRORIZING CHILDREN. AND YOU’RE MISLEADING THE
GENERAL PUBLIC AND TRYING TO
HOLD UP THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
BADGE.
BADGE. >> THAT’S ANOTHER WAY TO PUT IT.
THEY’RE BEING TRAUMATIZED AND
TERRORIZED.
TERRORIZED. THERE’S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
JON MEACHAM?
JON MEACHAM? >> I’M WONDERING IF THERE’S A
JUDICIAL REMEDY HERE IN THE
CHECKS AND BALANCES SYSTEM, IF
THE OTHER TWO BRANCHES FAIL.
ONE QUESTION IS WHETHER THERE IS
SOMETHING THAT THE COURTS COULD
STEP IN AND DO.
>> WELL, I THINK ON A
MICROLEVEL, FREQUENTLY THE
JUDGES SENTENCE THESE DEFENDANTS
TO TIME SERVED.
YOU KNOW, THESE ARE MISDEMEANOR
OFFENSES.
OFFENSES. AND SO WE COULD SEE A REMEDY AT
THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL.
THEY WERE HANDLED THROUGH THAT
WAY.
WAY. AT A MACROLEVEL, THERE HAS BEEN
A CHALLENGE BY THE ACLU, AND
THERE COULD BE OTHER CHALLENGES
TO TAKE THIS TO A HIGHER LEVEL
TO GET AN ORDER THAT SAYS THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CANNOT ACT
IN THIS WAY.
I DON’T KNOW THAT THAT KIND OF
AN ATTACK WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL
BECAUSE AS WE SAID THIS IS NOT A
LEGAL DECISION.
LEGAL DECISION. THIS IS A POLICY DECISION.
PEOPLE ARE ENTERING THE BORDER
ILLEGALLY.
ILLEGALLY. BUT WHAT HAS CHANGED AND WHAT IS
THE RADICAL DEPARTURE FROM THE
PAST IS THIS IDEA OF A ZERO
TOLERANCE POLICY.
TOLERANCE POLICY. EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO COMMITS
THAT MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE OF
ILLEGAL ENTRY IS BEING
PROSECUTED.
PROSECUTED. AND BECAUSE CHILDREN CANNOT BE
DETAINED OR JAILED AWAITING
TRIAL WITH THEIR PARENTS THEY
ARE NECESSARILY BEING SEPARATED.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST IS
ALLOWING PROSECUTORS TO USE
DISCRETION TO MAKE THAT COMMON
SENSE DECISION ABOUT
PRIORITIZATION.
PRIORITIZATION. IF SOMEONE HERE THAT HAS
COMMITTED THAT MISDEMEANOR
OFFENSE OF ILLEGAL ENTRY TO
DECLINE PROSECUTION, HANDLE IT
ADMINISTRATIVELY AND INSTEAD
FOCUS THE PROSECUTORIAL THINGS
THAT ARE CHANGES.
EVERY HOUR AND EVERY DAY THAT A
PROSECUTOR SPENDS HANDLING AN
ILLEGAL ENTRY CASE IS AN HOUR A
DAY THE PROSECUTOR SPENDS NOT
DEALING WITH SERIOUS CRIMES.
>> KASIE HUNT, YOU SAID LAST
HOUR THERE IS A SOLUTION, THAT
CONGRESS COULD ACT IN A SWEEPING
WAY AND END THIS AT ONCE.
IS THAT POSSIBLE?
>> SURE.
>> SURE. IT’S POSSIBLE.
IT’S POSSIBLE. >> HOW?
>> HOW? >> IT’S NOT HOW THEY NORMALLY DO
BUSINESS.
BUSINESS. >> NONE OF THIS IS NORMAL.
>> YOU KNOW, NORMALLY THERE’S
TRADEOFFS AND BACK AND FORTH.
BUT IF THEY REALLY WANTED TO,
REPUBLICAN LEADERS CONTROL THE
FLOORS OF THE HOUSE AND OF THE
SENATE.
SENATE. AND THEY COULD WRITE A VERY
NARROW BILL THAT I THINK AT
LEAST FROM TALKING TO MY -- I’VE
NOT DONE A FORMAL WHIP COUNT
OBVIOUSLY, BUT I’VE HAD
CONVERSATIONS WITH MEMBERS
PRIVATELY AND ON CAMERA THE LAST
COUPLE OF DAYS ABOUT THIS.
TO A PERSON I’M TRYING TO THINK
OF SOMEBODY I’VE TALKED TO WHO’S
NOT OPPOSED TO THIS POLICY.
EVERYBODY SAYS WE DON’T WANT TO
SEE THIS, WE DON’T WANT THIS TO
HAPPEN.
HAPPEN. SO THAT SUGGESTS TO ME THAT YOU
COULD POTENTIALLY SEE A VETO
PROOF MAJORITY.
PROOF MAJORITY. IT WOULD REQUIRE REPUBLICAN
LEADERS TO STAND UP AND
ESSENTIALLY OPPOSE THE PRESIDENT
IN THIS.
IN THIS. >> BUT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR IT TO
BE ENDED TODAY BY CONGRESS?
>> SURE.
>> SURE. >> TECHNICALLY POSSIBLE.
>> YES, TECHNICALLY POSSIBLE.
IT WOULD TAKE THE AGREEMENT OF
ALL 100 SENATORS TO DO IT TODAY,
BUT THE HOUSE COULD GO RIGHT
AHEAD AND DO IT TODAY.
THEIR PROCEDURES, THE HOUSE
SPEAKER HAS A LOT OF POWER OVER
WHAT HE COULD DO WITH THE FLOOR.
THEY WOULD PROBABLY ANGER A LOT
OF PEOPLE BECAUSE EVERYONE IS
WEDDED TO HOW THEY DO THINGS AND
THE PROCESSES AROUND THERE.
THEY COULD DO IT IF THEY WANTED
TO.
TO. >> EVERYONE IS VERY WEDDED TO
THE PROCESS.
THE PROCESS. AND I DON’T THINK WE’VE SEEN THE
PROCESS REALLY WORK OVER THE
PAST FEW YEARS.
AND AS KASIE SAID, NONE OF THIS
IS NORMAL.
IS NORMAL. SO 100 SENATORS, THERE’S 100 OF
YOU WHO COULD DO THIS TODAY AND
COULD CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF
OUR COUNTRY WHICH IS RIGHT NOW
HEADED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION
BECAUSE NONE OF THIS IS NORMAL.
TAKING BABIES AWAY FROM THEIR
MOTHERS IS NOT NORMAL.
HIDING TODDLERS FROM THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC, AND LARGE
GROUPS OF GIRLS THAT HAVE BEEN
SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES,
HIDING THEM FROM THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC, AND NOT REVEALING THE
PICTURES, OR TELLING US WHAT
THEIR LOCATIONS ARE, AND TELLING
US WHETHER THEY’RE OKAY, THAT’S
NOT NORMAL, AND THAT’S NOT
AMERICAN.
AMERICAN. TAKING GROUPS OF KIDS, AND
MARCHING THEM OFF TO TENTS LIKE
CRIMINALS.
CRIMINALS. BUILDING TENT CITIES FOR THEM.
HIDING CHILDREN IN CAGES WITH
BLANKETS THAT THEY HAVE TO
SHARE, AND LYING ON THE FLOOR,
THESE ARE THE PICTURES OUR
GOVERNMENT HAVE RELEASED TO SHOW
THEIR POLICY IS WORKING.
NONE OF THIS IS NORMAL.
WE HAVE 100 SENATORS WHO COULD
STEP UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING
FOR THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
AMERICA. AND THEN YOU CAN GO ON AND GO TO
YOUR CORNERS AND FIGHT ABOUT THE
DIFFERENT THINGS YOU WANT TO
FIGHT ABOUT.
FIGHT ABOUT. BUT LET’S BE UNIFIED ON THIS.
I DON’T THINK ANY OF THIS IS
NORMAL.
NORMAL. AND I THINK THAT OUR PRESIDENT,
THE ONE THING WE HAVEN’T SEEN IN
OUR LIFETIMES IS A PRESIDENT WHO
BRINGS TO THE TABLE RACIST
TENDENCIES, BIGOTRY, SEXISM,
BULLYING, THUGGISM, AND
FRIGHTENS PEOPLE TO SAY THINGS
THAT THEY DON’T MEAN IN ORDER TO
HOLD ONTO THEIR JOBS.
WE’VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN IN
REALTIME.
REALTIME. WE’VE SEEN THAT PLAY OUT BEFORE
OUR EYES.
OUR EYES. AND IT MIGHT BE PERSONAL.
IT MIGHT BE POLITICAL.
BUT THIS IS ABOUT OUR HEART.
AND WE’VE GOT 100 SENATORS WHO
COULD CHANGE THIS TODAY.
WE KNOW THE PRESIDENT WON’T
UNLESS FOR SOME REASON HE THINKS
HE MIGHT WIN SOME P.R. BATTLE OR
MAKE SOME SORT OF GAIN FOR
HIMSELF IN A WAY THAT ONLY
PERTAINS TO HIM.
BUT YOU COULD FIGHT FOR AMERICA.
YOU COULD FIGHT FOR WHO WE ARE.
WE WOULD SUPPORT THAT.
WE’RE PRAYING FOR THAT AS HUMAN
BEINGS AND CITIZENS OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
ANYBODY DISAGREE?
ANYBODY DISAGREE? >> WELL, I’D LIKE TO ASK KASIE A
QUESTION.
QUESTION. >> GO AHEAD.
>> I’VE READ ALL THE HEARTBROKEN
TWEETS FROM SENATORS AND READ
THE STRONGLY WORDED LETTERS FROM
SENATORS TO ATTORNEY GENERAL
SESSIONS.
SESSIONS. THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS HAD A --
DID ANY OF THEM CONFRONT HIM
ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHEN THEY HAD A
CHANCE?
CHANCE? >> THE PRESIDENT DIDN’T TAKE
QUESTIONS.
QUESTIONS. AND THERE WERE NO -- FROM MY
REPORTING, OUTBURSTS FROM THE
CROWD DURING THE MEETING.
WE TALKED TO ONE MEMBER WHO ON
HIS WAY IN, MY COLLEAGUE GARRETT
HAAKE SPOKE TO ONE IN COLORADO
WHO REPRESENTS -- HE’S BEEN A
VOICE ON THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE.
I HAVEN’T HAD A CHANCE YET TO
FOLLOW UP.
FOLLOW UP. I DIDN’T CATCH UP WITH HIM
LEAVING THE MEETING.
NONE OF MY SOURCES SAID THAT HE
WAS CONFRONTED DIRECTLY ON THIS
ISSUE.
ISSUE. IN FACT, TYPICALLY THESE
MEETINGS, THE PRESIDENT LIKES IT
WHEN MEMBERS STICK AROUND AND
TAKE SELFIES WITH HIM.
>> FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHS IT LOOKS
LIKE SMILES AND BACK SLAPS AND
STANDING OVATIONS.
STANDING OVATIONS. GENERAL BALDERAS, I WANT TO ASK
YOU A QUESTION AND PRESENT THE
CASE THE ADMINISTRATION MAKES
AND A LOT OF CONSERVATIVES WILL
MAKE TOO.
MAKE TOO. WHICH IS THAT IT’S HEARTBREAKING
TO LOOK AT THESE PICTURES, BUT
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS MANY
OF THEM ARE BREAKING THE LAW AND
THERE HAS TO BE SOME PUNISHMENT
FOR BREAKING THE LAW.
AND THEY BELIEVE THIS IS A TOUGH
DETERRENT.
DETERRENT. WE HAD AN INTERVIEW WITH ONE OF
OUR REPORTERS WITH A YOUNG
MOTHER AND HER CHILD WAITING ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BORDER AND
CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT IT
WAS WORTH IT TO CROSS INTO
UNITED STATES BECAUSE SHE MAY BE
SEPARATED FROM HER CHILD.
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WOULD
SAY, SEE, THAT’S WHAT WE MEAN,
WE’RE DETERRING PEOPLE FROM
CROSSING.
CROSSING. WHAT IS A BETTER SOLUTION HERE
TO PREVENT THE CROSSING OF
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS?
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS? >> THEY JUST NEED TO USE SOME
COMMON SENSE.
COMMON SENSE. THEY HAVE NOT BUILT THE
BUREAUCRACY OR THE APPARATUS TO
PROVIDE THE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT
OF DUE PROCESS.
IT’S TAKEN YEARS TO PROCESS
FAMILIES IN A HUMANE WAY.
LET’S INVEST TO BUILD TRULY THE
GREATEST IMMIGRATION SYSTEM WE
CAN BUILD.
CAN BUILD. WHY ARE WE DILLYDALLYING AROUND
FIGHTING ABOUT POLICIES AND
TRYING TO PASS A BILL RIGHT NOW
WHEN WE SHOULD BE INVESTING REAL
RESOURCES ON THE BORDER?
WE ARE AN INTERNATIONAL WORLD
SUPERPOWER, AND WE ARE TRYING TO
BUILD A WALL RATHER THAN BUILD
THE GREATEST JUSTICE SYSTEM TO
PROPERLY PROCESS MEXICO AND
CANADA, WHICH ARE OUR LARGEST
TRADING PARTNERS.
TRADING PARTNERS. WE ARE FIGHTING WITH NORTH KOREA
WHEN WE DON’T EVEN TRADE OR MAKE
MONEY OFF NORTH KOREA.
SO BUILDING A REAL ECONOMIC
ENGINE IN THAT REGION WHERE WE
VALUE HUMAN RIGHTS, EMPLOYMENT
RIGHTS, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
ENFORCEMENT. WE HAVE GREAT LAW ENFORCEMENT
PARTNERS RIGHT THERE WHERE WE
NEED TO ERADICATE DRUG
TRAFFICKING AND GUN RUNNING.
BUT ALL IT TAKES IS PUTTING
PROFESSIONALS DOWN THERE, SOCIAL
WORKERS, JUDGES, COUNSELORS, AND
PROPERLY PROCESS THEM.
>> GO BACK TO WHAT WE WERE DOING
PREVIOUSLY.
PREVIOUSLY. >> I THINK IT’S SLIGHTLY MORE
COMPLICATED THAN THAT, IN A WAY.
THERE’S BASICALLY TWO GROUPS OF
PEOPLE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT.
THERE ARE MEXICANS WHO HAVE
TRIED TO CROSS THE BORDER, AND
TRADITIONALLY OUR POLICY THERE
WAS TO SEND THEM BACK.
NOW YOU HAVE THIS NEW --
SOMEWHAT NEW PROBLEM, IN
FAIRNESS TO EVERYBODY WHO’S
WORKING ON THIS, WHERE YOU HAVE
FAMILIES FLEEING THIS GANG
VIOLENCE AND THESE TERRIBLE
CONDITIONS IN GUATEMALA,
HONDURAS AND SO ON.
THEY’RE SEEKING ASYLUM, A
DIFFERENT LEGAL SITUATION.
>> THAT’S THE POINT.
>> THE QUESTION FOR US AS A
COUNTRY IS WHAT DO YOU DO WITH
THE ASYLUM SEEKERS?
DO YOU TAKE THEM BECAUSE THEY’RE
SEEKING ASYLUM FROM ALL THIS
GANG VIOLENCE?
GANG VIOLENCE? OR DO YOU SEND THEM BACK AS
FAMILIES INTO THE MIDDLE OF THIS
VIOLENCE?
VIOLENCE? OR WHAT IS OUR NATIONAL VIEW OF
THIS?
THIS? >> THAT IS A GREAT POINT.
THAT’S WHAT OUR NATION HAS BEEN
MISSING.
MISSING. WE’RE COMING OFF THE HEELS OF
THE DREAMER ARGUMENT WHERE I HAD
DREAMERS WHO WERE SOLDIERS
SIGNING IN WITH HOMELAND
SECURITY PASSING BACKGROUND
CHECKS, WHERE LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS, COMING OFF THE OLD
IMMIGRATION SYSTEM WHICH WAS
BROKEN.
BROKEN. NOW WE HAVE ASYLUM REFUGEE WHO
HAVE MORE FUNDAMENTAL LEGAL
RIGHTS.
RIGHTS. BOTH SYSTEMS AMERICA DIDN’T DO
WELL.
WELL. WE BUILT A BIG MACK HAMBURGER.
IN SECONDS, WE CAN TURN AROUND A
GREASY BURGER THAT’S NOT GOOD
FOR YOU.
FOR YOU. BUT WE CAN’T PROCESS IMMIGRANT
RIGHTS LIKE THE DREAMERS.
WE CAN EITHER TURN BACK A FAMILY
OR PROCESS THEM AS A DREAMER AND
WE SHOULD DO IT UNDER A YEAR,
THE WAY WE PROCESS A HARVARD
APPLICANT, OR WE SHOULD HAVE
SOME TYPE OF FUNDAMENTAL
PROTECTION FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS.
COME ON, WE’RE THE BEST NATION
IN THE WORLD.
AND WHERE I’M MAKING THE
ARGUMENT, MEXICO IS AN ALLY.
THEY’RE THE NUMBER THREE TRADING
PARTNER.
PARTNER. IF TRUMP IS A REAL BUSINESSMAN,
HE WON’T BE PLAYING FOOTSIES
WITH NORTH KOREA WHERE WE MAKE
NO MONEY OFF THAT ECONOMY, AND
MEXICO WE KNOW WE MAKE MONEY
BECAUSE WE NEED THEIR LABOR, WE
TRADE WITH THEM AND THEY’RE OUR
NEIGHBOR.
NEIGHBOR. AND THEY’RE A BETTER SOCCER TEAM
THAN WE ARE RIGHT NOW, QUITE
FRANKLY.
FRANKLY. WHY CAN WE NOT PROCESS OUR
NEIGHBORS IN A HUMAN WAY?
I HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS
OVER THERE WHERE WE ARE
EXCHANGING INFORMATION.
EXCHANGING INFORMATION. IN NEW MEXICO, GOOD EXAMPLE, A
MEXICAN NATIONAL KILLED EVERY
ONE OF HIS FAMILY MEMBERS.
AND WE HAVE AN EXTRADITION
AGREEMENT.
AGREEMENT. IN MEXICO, IT WAS MEXICAN LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND
NEW MEXICO LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS THAT HELPED ME GO DOWN
AND TRACK THIS KILLER,
COLD-BLOODED KILLER IN MEXICO
CITY.
CITY. AND WE BROUGHT HIM BACK TO
JUSTICE IN NEW MEXICO.
THIS IS THE KIND OF THINGS WE’RE
DOING AT THE STATE LEVEL.
BUT PRESIDENT TRUMP JUST HAS A
DERANGED ARGUMENT.
DERANGED ARGUMENT. THAT’S ALL I’M SAYING.
IT’S A COMPLICATED ISSUE.
BUT WE ARE SIMPLY NOT PROCESSING
THESE CASES IN A WAY THAT WE ARE
PROCESSING A DIVORCE OR OTHER
SYSTEMS OF JUSTICE.
THAT WE ARE THE GREATEST SUPER
POWER IN THE WORLD AND WE CAN DO
A BETTER JOB.
>> BARBARA McQUAID, LET’S
CONTINUE THIS IN ONE VAIN.
THE POWER OF THE LAW, U.S.
ATTORNEYS, EVERY U.S. ATTORNEY
HAS A PRETTY POWERFUL TOOL BOX
TO UTILIZE IN VARIOUS
SITUATIONS.
SITUATIONS. WHAT COULD A U.S. ATTORNEY DO IN
THIS CASE TO PROTECT CHILDREN
FROM BEING SEPARATED FROM THEIR
PARENTS?
PARENTS? IT’S CRUEL.
IT’S CRUEL. IT’S UNUSUAL.
IT’S UNUSUAL. IT’S INHUMANE.
IT’S INHUMANE. WHAT COULD A U.S. ATTORNEY
THEORETICALLY DO?
THEORETICALLY DO? COULD A U.S. ATTORNEY DO
ANYTHING AT ALL TO PROTECT THESE
CHILDREN?
CHILDREN? >> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
CAUSED ALL OF THE U.S. ATTORNEYS
FROM BOTH REPUBLICAN AND
DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATIONS TO
WRITE THIS LETTER TO JEFF
SESSIONS WAS TO DRAW ATTENTION
TO THE FACT THAT THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL HAS ORDERED ALL U.S.
ATTORNEYS TO USE ZERO TOLERANCE.
SO RIGHT NOW U.S. ATTORNEYS
CANNOT DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN
PROSECUTE ALL OF THESE CASES.
AND TO PUT IT INTO PERSPECTIVE,
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, THE
ENTIRE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ACROSS
THE COUNTRY EVERY YEAR
PROSECUTES ABOUT 70,000 CASES A
YEAR.
YEAR. AND OF THOSE 70,000, ABOUT
20,000 OF THOSE ARE IMMIGRATION
OFFENSES.
OFFENSES. IF THIS CONTINUES, PROSECUTORS
THIS YEAR WILL HAVE TO HANDLE
300,000 IMMIGRATION CASES.
THAT’S MORE THAN THEY’VE EVER
PROCESSED IN A SINGLE YEAR.
THAT’S IF THEY DON’T DO ANYTHING
ELSE.
ELSE. AND SO THIS IS REALLY TIEING THE
HANDS OF THOSE PROSECUTORS ON
THE SOUTHERN BORDER TO DO
NOTHING BUT THIS.
AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL JUST
SAID, A BETTER USE OF THOSE
RESOURCES WOULD BE TO ALLOW THE
U.S. ATTORNEYS TO GO BACK TO
THEIR NORMAL PRACTICE OF USING
PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION TO
PROSECUTE THE MOST SERIOUS AND
DANGEROUS CASES, TO DECLINE
PROSECUTION FROM THOSE WHO
PRESENT NO THREAT AND INSTEAD
USE EXPEDITED REMOVAL TO SEND
THEM BACK.
THEM BACK. AND FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS WHICH
INTERNATIONAL LAW SAYS WE CANNOT
TURN BACK SOMEONE WHO HAS A
CREDIBLE FEAR OF DEATH.
INVESTIGATE INTO THOSE
RESOURCES.
RESOURCES. I THINK THE CONCERN IS THAT
PEOPLE ARE LYING ABOUT THEIR
ASYLUM SEEKING, THAT THERE IS NO
CREDIBLE FEAR, AND THEY JUST
WANT TO COME TO AMERICA.
WELL, IF THAT’S THE CASE, LET’S
PUT OUR RESOURCES THERE, AND DO
A BETTER JOB AT THAT CREDIBLE
FEAR DETERMINATION THAT OCCURS
AT THE BORDER SO ONLY THOSE WITH
A BONA FIDE FEAR OF PERSECUTION
OR DEATH ARE PERMITTED TO SEEK
ASYLUM.
ASYLUM. THE GREAT PHILOSOPHER STUDIED
AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AND SAID IF
AMERICA IS GREAT, IT’S BECAUSE
AMERICA IS GOOD.