Color me not surprised that the only time Laura Bush speaks out about a presidential administration, it’s the Trump Administration.
The former First Lady spoke out about President Trump’s ‘zero tolerance’ immigration policy, that has resulted in the separation of families at the southern border. In The Washington Post, Laura Bush wrote the following: “I appreciate the need to enforce and protect our international boundaries, but this zero-tolerance policy is cruel. It is immoral. And it breaks my heart.”
Strong words from a strong woman. And, no doubt, her voice will be fodder to liberals looking to hammer Trump even more for a policy that is a mere continuation of what the Obama Administration enforced. (RELATED: Democrat Rep Admits – Obama Tried to Keep Child Migrant Problem Quiet).
The Trump Administration was never going to let a criticism from the Bush family go unmet. So Sarah Sanders, the White House’s resident attack dog, was sicced on Bush’s overwrought claim. And I say overwrought, because, as Sanders brilliantly points out, Laura Bush has absolutely no place to complain about the current practices at the southern border.
Here’s how Sarah Sanders responded, pulling no punches:
Sanders to Laura Bush: “Frankly this law was actually signed into effect in 2008 under her husband’s leadership. Not under this administration” pic.twitter.com/PFxfi5eFtU
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) June 18, 2018
“Not under this administration” is right!
The media will try to spin it, but Sanders made a great point when you follow the laws to their logical conclusions.
As Julie Davis of the New York Times reports, there is no law dictating that families be separated at the border. But there are a number of factors that actually result in families being separated at the border. A legal settlement known as the Flores settlement stipulates that children can only be held at immigration detention centers for up to 20 days. A judge ruled in 2016 that the same standard applies to families.
Likewise, the law Sanders cited is actually a statute that stipulates that “at certain unaccompanied alien minors be transferred out of immigration detention in 72 hours.”
The statute 8 U.S. Code § 1325 of the federal code outlines the punishment for unlawful entry at the border, which can carry a prison sentence up to two years. And here’s where the separation comes in, in Davis’s words: “It is the Trump administration’s decision this year to prosecute all unlawful immigrants as criminals that has forced the breakup of families; the children are removed when the parents are taken into federal custody.”
An unfortunate consequence of enforcing the law as it currently stands means that some families are separated. (RELATED: The Trump Admin’s Enforcement Of Family Separation Makes Sense Without An Immigration Fix).
Sanders is right that President George W. Bush helped precipitate this crisis. Perhaps his wife should be more careful with her words and history before speaking out against a policy she, by extension of being the government official closest to the man signing the legislation into law, helped create.
It’s the executive branch’s job to enforce the law. It’s up to Congress to change the laws, which it can do if only it acts.
Let’s hope Congress acts soon and cleans this mess up, for our country’s sake and the children’s.
