Tag: immigrant children

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Trump Administration Siphons HIV/AIDS Funds For More Child Detention Centers

As the public battle about family separations at the U.S. southern border rages on, reports show the Trump administration is taking money from HIV/AIDS programs to fund further separations.
Donald Trump

As the public battle about family separations at the U.S. southern border rages on, reports show the Trump administration is taking money from HIV/AIDS programs to fund further separations.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement is looking ahead at the possibility that 25,450 more beds for immigrant children could be needed by year’s end.

The office, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, was apparently surprised when U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the new “zero tolerance” policy that families would be separated if caught crossing the border without authorization.

Under the policy, parents are imprisoned and children have been placed in cages that Sen. Jeff Merkley, who visited a facility, described as resembling “dog kennels.”

Now, in preparation for a new surge of family separations, the HHS is not only asking for supplemental funds, but according to news website Slate is also planning to reallocate money from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.

The Ryan White CARE Act was introduced in 1990 by Sen. Ted Kennedy weeks after the death of its namesake Ohio teen, who had been infected with HIV via a blood transfusion to treat his hemophilia. The bill was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush.

According to the program’s website, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program “provides a comprehensive system of care that includes primary medical care and essential support services for people living with HIV who are uninsured or underinsured.”

Slate’s reporting indicates the process of transferring those HIV/AIDS funds has already begun.

This is just one more example of the Trump/Pence administration’s bias against the LGBTQ community which is massively impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Vice President MikePence famously pledged to siphon funding from the program in order to fund state-sponsored ‘gay cure’ therapy.

On his 2000 Congressional campaign website, Pence posted:

“Congress should support the reauthorization of the Ryan White Care Act only after completion of an audit to ensure that federal dollars were no longer being given to organisations that celebrate and encourage the types of behaviours that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus.

“Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior.”

Additionally, HHS is moving $79 million from refugee resettlement programs. The loss of those funds will undercut medical assistance and social services for refugees in the United States.

(h/t Slate)

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Poll: 55% Of Voters Say Trump Has “Emboldened” Racists

A new poll from Quinnipiac University shows 49% of American voters believe Trump is racist
Donald Trump

A new poll from Quinnipiac University has some eye-popping results regarding Donald Trump and his immigration policies.

According to the new survey:

• 58% of American voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of immigration policies, 39% approve

• 49% of American voters believe Trump is racist, 47% say he is not

• 60% of American voters say separating immigrant children from their families is a violation of human rights, 36% disagree

• Trump gets a thumbs up on job approval from 40% of American voters, while 55% disapprove of the job he’s doing

• 91% of Americans feel the lack of civility in politics is a serious problem

• 47% of American voters blame Trump for the lack of civility while 37% blame the Democrats

• 55% of American voters say Trump has emboldened those with racist beliefs to express those beliefs publicly

• 58% say Trump is not honest

• 60% say Trump doesn’t share their values

• 62% say Trump doesn’t provide the country with moral leadership

More at Quinnipiac University.

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First Lady Wears “I Don’t Really Care, Do U?” Jacket Traveling To Visit Immigrant Children

File this under “You can’t make this shit up:”

According to several reports and photos, First Lady Melania Trump boarded her plane to travel visit children separated from their parents at the U.S. southern border wearing a jacket that read on the back, “I don’t really care, do u?”

Did I mention the weather was 85 degrees and humid in Washington, D.C. today? Hardly ‘jacket weather.’

By the time the plane landed, the First Lady had done a costume change.

It’s not known if the change was planned or if someone pointed out the unfortunate messaging.

It’s notable that the First Lady was scheduled to visit TWO shelters – an HHS shelter that she made it to, and one of the shelters holding children in those now-infamous ‘cages.’

She didn’t make it to the second. Quel surprise.

UPDATE: The First Lady’s spokesperson, Stephanie Grisham, told CNN’s Jim Acosta, “It’s a jacket. There was no hidden message. After today’s important visit to Texas, I hope the media isn’t going to choose to focus on her wardrobe.”

But then the Trumpster himself had to step in it and say the exact opposite – that there was, in fact, a hidden meaning.

President Trump tweeted: “I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?” written on the back of Melania’s jacket, refers to the Fake News Media. Melania has learned how dishonest they are, and she truly no longer cares!”

"I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?" written on the back of Melania's jacket, refers to the Fake News Media. Melania has learned how dishonest they are, and she truly no longer cares!"
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Rachel Maddow Breaks Down Reporting On Separated Children At The Border

At the end of her MSNBC show last night, Rachel Maddow was handed breaking news by the Associate Press about the Trump administration operating “tender age” shelters for migrant babies and toddlers.

As has been widely reported, journalists who have toured the facilities have described the experience being similar to “visiting an animal shelter.”

Coming after an hour of reporting on the “zero tolerance” policy, Maddow tried to read the report live on air she kept choking up while speaking.

“This has just come out from the Associated Press,” she began, then paused, as her emotions were clearly taking hold.

She attempted to continue reading, but her voice broke.

Trying to get the camera off of her, Maddow asked producers to put up a graphic, but it’s not ready.

There was a final attempt before shaking her head, saying: “I think I’m gonna have to hand this off.”

And that’s exactly what happened. Thankfully Lawrence O’Donnell was at the ready for the handoff into the next hour.

Maddow later apologized via Twitter to her viewers:

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Trump Announces Executive Order To Stop Family Separations At The Border

President Trump announces he will finally stop separating migrant children from their parents after weeks of saying he had no power to do so
Donald Trump

After weeks of claiming only Congress has the power to stop separating migrant children from their parents at the southern border of the United States, Donald Trump announced today that he will sign an executive order to stop the horrific policy.

The truth of the matter is no executive order is needed. Trump can stop all this with a phone call to his Attorney General.

From The New York Times:

Mr. Trump’s executive order would seek to get around an existing 1997 consent decree, known as the Flores settlement, that prohibits the federal government from keeping children in immigration detention — even if they are with their parents — for more than 20 days.

Stories of children being taken from their parents and images of teenagers in cage-like detention facilities have exploded into a full-blown political crisis for Mr. Trump and Republican lawmakers, who are desperate for a response to critics who have called the practice “inhumane” and “evil.”

Mr. Trump has for weeks refused to simply end his government’s “zero tolerance” policy that led to the separation of more than 2,300 children from their parents, saying that the alternative would be to fling open the nation’s borders and allow immigrants who cross the border illegally to remain in the country.
But the president, furious about the pummeling he has taken in recent days, has been casting about for an escape from the crisis, people familiar with his thinking said.

Today’s announcement comes as Trump’s approval rating on immigration has hit an all-time low.

According to a CNN poll released Monday, Trump’s handling of immigration dropped five points in just the last month to only 35% approval.

Axios reported this morning that a senior White House official described Trump’s perspective on the issue as “being moved personally, but also doesn’t want to look weak.”

“He feels boxed in, is frustrated and knows it’s bad politics — but also understands it’s not a fight he can back down from,” added the official.

Watch Trump weave back and forth in his announcement below:

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Hillary Clinton: “Separating Families Is Not Mandated By Law At All”

Hillary Clinton addressed the ongoing debacle involving separating children from their parents at the southern border of the United States today.

In her address, in a clear and steadfast voice delivered at the Women’s Forum of New York, Clinton makes it clear that there is no “law” that requires ripping children from their parents arms and putting them in cages.

“Separating families is not mandated by law at all. That is an outright lie.”

This is how a president acts when facing difficult issues.

Watch below.