Separating Children @ the Border? "There is no such policy."

Author Update: On June 20, bowing to enormous political pressure, the President signed an executive order in effect stopping the practice of separating children at the border. About six weeks ago, the current administration in Washington announced a "zero tolerance" policy in regards to families and individuals attempting to cross over at the Mexican border. The new executive order does nothing to change the plight of the 2,300 children who were already separated from their parents. 

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According to the New York Times, this "Zero Tolerance" policy has resulted in over two thousand children being separated from their families within the past two months. 

But it wasn't until Attorney General Jeff Sessions cherry-picked a Bible quote about obeying the law that he opened up the proverbial can of worms.

First, to make it absolutely clear, there was no policy in place mandating separating children from families at the border, or a "Zero Tolerance" policy mandating prosecuting refugees as criminals. It was a decision by the current administration in Washington (mainly Trump and his top advisor, Stephen Miller) that created the new "zero tolerance" policy that is now being championed by most of the West Wing.

In an ill-fated attempt to add legitimacy to this policy, Sessions zeroed in on the opening verses from Romans 13, which talks about obeying the governing authorities. But within those same verses, Paul (the author of Romans) points out that "all authority comes from God," not any particular government. So, there is a higher moral authority, that supersedes secular institutions.

And if Sessions had read the rest of Romans Chapter 13, he would have found Paul's encouragement to "love one another (vs. 8). If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law."

So, in effect the same Chapter that Sessions quoted winds up making the main point that there is a higher law, created by God, which asks us to love one another.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who says she is a Christian also echoed Sessions interpretation of Chapter 13.

The net effect of Sessions and Sanders stumbling in referencing the Bible caused a monumental push-back among Christian leaders, many of them conservative. Including Franklin Graham, who, to date, has been one of Trump's fiercest supporters. Graham called the decision to separate families at the border "disgraceful."

Former First Lady Laura Bush (the last republican first lady in the White House) noted, "this zero tolerance policy is cruel. It is immoral. And it breaks my heart."

Stephen Miller, the president's senior advisor, who has been pushing for a "zero tolerance" policy since the election, told the New York Times in an interview that: "It was a simple decision by the [Trump] administration to have a zero tolerance policy for illegal entry, period." 

In an effort to separate fact from fiction in regards to the "zero tolerance" policy the Washington Post offered this handy source.

There are two immigration bills currently being considered in the House this week. Possibly as early as Tuesday.

Meanwhile, children of families seeing to come into the US, mostly through established entry points along the border with Mexico, who were caught before the Executive Order issued on June 20th, continue to be separated.

And the President, his senior advisor and the head of Homeland Security remain firmly committed to the "zero tolerance" policy.

Centuries ago, William Shakespeare had some powerful words to say about how to treat refugees. It was part of a play that was censored. Here's a three-minute, powerful portion called "The Strangers' Case." It's an absolutely brilliant defense for the cause of the refugee among us.

Of course, practically all major organized religions, including Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim and Christian have something to say about how we treat the "stranger" among us. Among Christians, there is a doctrine called Imago Dei, which, simply reminds us that since we are all made in God's image, we are all equally important before God, and should be so among each other. Here's what Fr. Richard Rohr has to say about Imago Dei.

If you're motivated to call your Congressional representatives, you can do so by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121. You will be asked your zip code and then you'll be connected. Once connected you can tell the Congressional staff/aide that you are against the "zero tolerance" policy. If you already called your Congressional representative about the separation of children at the border, good job! Thank You! Your phone calls exerted pressure that resulted in the current Executive Order now barring this practice. If you haven't called yet, feel free to call or follow-up regarding the "zero tolerance" policy, which remains in effect.

Photo Credits: Top, Daily Beast, middle Transitions; bottom ABC News