Trump Highlights Victims of Migrants Amid Family Separations Row

in #news6 years ago

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US President Donald Trump has hosted the relatives of victims killed by illegal immigrants amid outrage over the separation of migrant families. "Your loved ones have not died in vain," he told the group of so-called Angel Families at the White House.

Mr Trump has faced global condemnation for the US immigration policy that has seen more than 2,000 migrant children stripped from their families. He bowed to public pressure and reversed the policy earlier this week.

The president signed an executive order on Wednesday to end the separate detention of undocumented immigrant children from their parents after illegally entering the country.

As part of the the administration's "zero-tolerance" policy, which seeks to criminally charge and jail undocumented border crossers, children cannot legally be held with their parents. They have instead been kept in separate facilities.

"These are the American citizens permanently separated from their loved ones," he said on Friday, before introducing family members of victims.

"I cannot imagine it being any worse, but we promise to act with strength and resolve.

"We'll not rest until our border is secure, our citizens are safe and we end this immigration crisis once and for all," Mr Trump added.