In yet another good news story, I just heard the announcement and part of Trump’s remarks where he said he would sign an executive order which would discontinue the cruel practice of separating children from their undocumented parents at our Southern border.
It was clear that Trump was very angry that he was forced to capitulate on this issue. He planned to use the children as bargaining chips to get a hard line immigration legislation passed by Congress which would contain full funding for his precious and totally unnecessary border wall.
However, it was also clear that he had little choice in the matter. Images and audio recordings of children who had experienced the trauma of traveling many hundreds of miles using questionable methods of transportation then being exposed to the horror of being ripped away from the only familiarity and protection they had left was too graphic for the eyes and minds of most Americans. When this was backed up by the condemnation of religious and evangelical leaders, the medical community, national leaders around the world, and even many conservative Congressional Republicans, Trumps self-described “indomitable resolve” crumbled to dust.
In his remarks Trump said he had a choice of appearing weak and being seen as hard-hearted. He obviously chose under great pressure to appear weak, which he hates with an unearthly passion. As a result one would have to believe that going forward Trump will much less comfortable with the council of immigration hard liners such as Stephen Miller, John Kelly, and Jeff Sessions. Trump doesn’t like looking bad and when he does, he tends to blame others. These men will be suitable targets of his anger because they probably talked him into taking this path despite the reservations and strenuous objections of other White House advisers.
Of course, with his announcement Trump essentially admitted that he and prominent members of his administration lied repeatedly that he was powerless in the situation and could do nothing to prevent the separation of children from their parents. Trump is not doing away with his “zero tolerance” policy of arresting all undocumented immigrants, but the executive order he intends to sign will allow children to be keep with their parents when they are incarcerated. He is still being heartless, just less so.
Going forward expect Trump to continue his constant drumbeat of “millions of illegal immigrants infesting our country”. He still believes this emphasis is what is necessary to rile up his base and get them out to the polls in the mid-term elections to counter the expected blue wave. We need to be more passionate and motivated.
Cajun 6/20/2018