Merkley leads Dem lawmakers to border amid migrant policy outcry

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) led a group of Democratic lawmakers to the southern border in Texas on Sunday amid growing backlash against the Trump administration’s policy of separating families who have crossed the border illegally. 

Merkley was joined in McAllen, Texas, by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), as well as Texas Reps. Filemon Vela (D), Vicente González (D), and Sheila Jackson Lee (D). 

{mosads}Democratic Reps. David Cicilline (R.I.), Peter Welch (Vt.), and Mark Pocan (Wis.) also traveled to the border on Sunday. 

The group of lawmakers toured the Customs and Border Protection processing centers and looked to find out more information about how the agency processed immigrants illegally entering the U.S., including the Trump administration policy that prosecutes parents crossing the border illegally, thus separating them from their children.

The visit on Sunday was billed by organizers as “#FathersDayofAction.” 

WATCH: I’m on the border investigating @realDonaldTrump’s cruel policy of ripping children away from their parents. #FathersDayofAction pic.twitter.com/cLVMQmmIh1

— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) June 17, 2018

“Here’s what’s going on. It’s a comprehensive strategy of preventing people from seeking asylum. So at the bridges, those who already have documents, passports and so forth are let in while those seeking asylum are kept in the no man’s land between Mexico and the United States,” Merkley told CNN. 

“And so they’re going to cross the border and that’s where the administration is saying ‘oh, they broke the law crossing the border outside the border checkpoint. Now we’ll arrest them and treat them as criminals and take their kids away. I have also heard though, of a number of stories of people who did cross at the official checkpoints who have also been charged with a crime and separated from their children,” he continued. 

“This is a deliberate and inhumane policy, and we’re here to say to President Trump, end it and end it today,” Van Hollen said in the same interview. 

Merkley made headlines earlier this month when he shared a video of him attempting to enter an immigration detention facility in Texas. He was ultimately turned away by officials. 

The lawmakers’ visit on Sunday comes as the administration scrambles to defend the policy in the face of growing backlash. 

Attorney General Jeff Sessions invoked the Bible to defend the policy on Thursday, urging law and order at the border, while President Trump blamed Democrats for the policy on Friday. 

“The Democrats are forcing the breakup of families at the Border with their horrible and cruel legislative agenda. Any Immigration Bill MUST HAVE full funding for the Wall, end Catch & Release, Visa Lottery and Chain, and go to Merit Based Immigration. Go for it! WIN!” the president tweeted.  

The Democrats are forcing the breakup of families at the Border with their horrible and cruel legislative agenda. Any Immigration Bill MUST HAVE full funding for the Wall, end Catch & Release, Visa Lottery and Chain, and go to Merit Based Immigration. Go for it! WIN!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2018

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen issued a series of tweets on Sunday, denying that the administration had a policy of separating families at the border. 

“This misreporting by Members, press & advocacy groups must stop. It is irresponsible and unproductive. As I have said many times before, if you are seeking asylum for your family, there is no reason to break the law and illegally cross between ports of entry,” Nielsen said. 

“You are not breaking the law by seeking asylum at a port of entry,” she continued. “For those seeking asylum at ports of entry, we have continued the policy from previous Administrations and will only separate if the child is in danger, there is no custodial relationship between ‘family’ members, or if the adult has broken a law.”