George Little, a former Pentagon Spokesman, said Sunday that President Donald Trump's immigration policy of separating families who attempt to cross the border illegally undermines First Lady Melania Trump's 'Be Best' campaign.
I think it’s safe to say that if there was any shred of substance or meaning left to the #BeBest campaign, it disappeared instantly with the forced separation of parents from their children.
— George Little (@georgelittledc) June 16, 2018
"I think it's safe to say that if there was any shred of substance or meaning left to the #BeBest campaign, it disappeared instantly with the forced separation of parents from their children," Little tweeted Saturday.
The 'Be Best' campaign, which was introduced in May as an initiative to promote the well-being of children, with a specific focus on cyber-bullying and drug use.
"I will also work to shine a spotlight on the people, organizations and programs across the country that are helping children overcome the many issues they are facing as they grow up," the First Lady said in an announcement of the campaign.
The Trump administration introduced a heightened "zero tolerance" immigration policy earlier in May designed to deter Central American families from crossing the border illegally. One of the new provisions, as outlined by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, allows children to be separated from parents who are apprehended for trying to cross the border.
"If you are smuggling a child then we will prosecute you, and that child will be separated from you as required by law," Sessions said while outlining the Trump administration's stricter immigration stance. "If you don't like that, then don't smuggle children over our border."
As a part of the policy, charged adults get sent to federal court while children are sent to the Department of Health and Human Services's Office of Refugee Resettlement. In April, members of the Trump administration testified that they lost track of nearly 1,500 undocumented minors that had been taken into custody.
The policy has seen sharp criticism from multiple political and religious groups. Last week a Catholic Bishop in Arizona suggested "canonical penalties" for Christians who help carry out the immigration policy.
Congressman Ted Lieu of California said in May the policy was "evil" and would "shock Jesus."
"...I think the most appropriate way to describe it is this: The policy is evil," he tweeted.
There are many ways to describe the @realDonaldTrump policy of ripping children away from their parents at the border.
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) May 26, 2018
-It violates human rights laws.
-It is unAmerican.
-It would shock Jesus.
But I think the most appropriate way to describe it is this:
-The policy is evil. https://t.co/RQ3x7ZGhUx
The Trump administration has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that Democrats are responsible for the policy. "Democrats can fix their forced family breakup at the Border by working with Republicans on new legislation, for a change," he tweeted Saturday.
Democrats can fix their forced family breakup at the Border by working with Republicans on new legislation, for a change! This is why we need more Republicans elected in November. Democrats are good at only three things, High Taxes, High Crime and Obstruction. Sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 16, 2018
Democrats have repeatedly pushed back on Trump's claim that they are responsible for families being separated.
"Any notion that this bill ends family separation is a boldfaced lie," Representative Bennie G. Thompson, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee said. "The Trump administration is brutally separating families at the border because they choose to as a deterrent."
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