Deadline Ticks Closer For Court-Ordered Reunification, And Hundreds Of Children Still Remain Separated
But nearly 1,200 children have been placed back with their families, according to the Justice Department, which has been ordered to keep the court updated with its progress. Meanwhile, HHS Secretary Alex Azar has become a target of a negative ad campaign for his role in the immigration crisis.
The Associated Press:
Administration Reports Nearly 1,200 Family Reunifications
Nearly 1,200 children 5 and older have been reunited with their families after being separated at the U.S.-Mexico border, leaving hundreds to go before this week's court-imposed deadline, according to a Justice Department court filing on Monday that raised the possibility that many parents have been deported. (Spagat, 7/23)
The Hill:
Liberal Group Launches Ads Targeting Azar Over Child Separations
A reproductive rights group is launching an ad campaign targeting Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar for his role in enforcing the Trump administration’s policy of family separations at the country’s southern border. Equity Forward said it spent more than $1 million on a television ad in the Washington, D.C., metro area, encouraging people to call Congress and tell lawmakers to hold Azar and the administration accountable for the separation policy. (Weixel, 7/23)
Texas Tribune:
Hundreds Of Migrants Describe Experience In Federal Custody
In more than 1,000 pages of new court declarations from children and adults in federal custody, several hundred migrants who crossed the border seeking asylum describe long waits for medical care, outbreaks of chicken pox and untreated diaper rashes. The documents detail minimal access to legal services, with obstacles like language barriers and migrants' confusion about their own rights. (Platoff, 7/24)
And —
Politico:
'That Was Not The Deal': McCarthy, Ryan Renege On Immigration Vow
House GOP leaders are reneging on a vow to hold an immigration vote before the August recess, a move that puts House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy in a particularly awkward spot as he seeks to become the next speaker. In June, McCarthy (R-Calif.) personally promised several rank-and-file members a vote on a new guest-worker program for farmers, an offer backed by Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). The assurance was critical at the time: It persuaded Reps. Dennis Ross (R-Fla.) and Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) not to sign on to an effort — which Republican leaders were desperately trying to stop — to force a vote on legislation creating a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, the immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. The so-called discharge petition ultimately fell two signatures short. (Bade, 7/24)
