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Justice Department Knew About Family Separation, Report Shows

Trump and his White House aides forced the zero-tolerance policy that caused family separation at the southern border, DOJ officials say.

Deanna Garcia

Jan 15, 2021

Central American migrants crossing the Suchiate River between the Guatemalan and Mexican border. Photo: Oliver de Ros

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Trump and his White House aides forced the zero-tolerance policy that caused migrant families to separate at the southern border, according to top Justice Department official Gene Hamilton. In an inspector general report released on Thursday, Hamilton said the policy was pushed after Trump and White House officials involved in executing Trump’s immigration agenda complained not enough was being done to discourage illegal immigration. Hamilton also said former Attorney General Jeff Sessions “perceived a need to take quick action from” Trump and that after a White House meeting in April 2018, Sessions “directed that I draft a memo that would put in effect a zero-tolerance approach to immigration enforcement at the border.” The New York Times 

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