Reuters
WASHINGTON — Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen defended separating children and their families at the border and urged Congress to change the laws if they don’t want them enforced.
Nielsen compared the arrest and separating of migrants families at the border to the arrest of any American.
“If you commit a crime, police will take you to jail regardless of whether you have a family,” Nielsen told a gathering of law-enforcement officials in New Orleans.
Nielsen said DHS cannot detain children and parents together, so the only choice is to let families go free or detain them separately. But no longer, she said, will parents get a free pass.
“If you cross the border illegally we will prosecute you,” Nielsen said.
She lashed out the media and activists for criticizing border agents for doing their jobs. And she said the children taken away from parents are doing fine.
“These minors are very well taken care of,” Nielsen said. “Don’t believe the press.”