Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Azar Tries To Soothe Lawmakers' Border-Crisis Concerns, But Dems Say Picture He's Painting Is Rosier Than Reality
The Wall Street Journal: HHS Secretary Seeks To Reassure Lawmakers On Family Separation Policy
Hundreds of children separated from their parents under the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy have been reunited with relatives and every parent has access to information on where their children are, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Tuesday. Mr. Azar sought to reassure lawmakers about the reunification process at a drug-pricing hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. He said his agency has received more than 2,300 children separated from family members along the border with about 2,047 now under the agency’s care. (Armour, 6/26)
The Hill: Top Official Says Government Can't Reunite Migrant Families Under Current Law
Under questioning from Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee, HHS Secretary Alex Azar indicated it's the responsibility of Congress or the courts to reunite the 2,047 migrant children still in the agency's custody. “We are working to get all these kids ready to be placed back with their parents as soon as Congress passes a change, or if those parents complete their immigration proceedings,” Azar said. “We do not want any children separated from their parents any longer than necessary under the law.” (Weixel, 6/26)
CQ: Azar: No Reason Parents Could Not Locate Children Held By HHS
Azar said there was no reason why parents could not find out where their child was, contrary to numerous recent media reports. As of Monday night, HHS was caring for 2,047 immigrant children because of the administration's practice of dividing families who cross into the United States, down from a high of more than 2,300 children, Azar said at a hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. “Every parent has access to know where their child is,” Azar said. (McIntire, 6/26)
Reuters: States Sue Trump Over Immigrant Families As Congress Quarrels
More than a dozen states sued the Trump administration on Tuesday over its separation of migrant children and parents at the U.S.-Mexico border, saying President Donald Trump's order last week ending the breakups was illusory. In a complaint filed with U.S. District Court in Seattle, 17 states and the District of Columbia argued the administration's policy was unconstitutional in part because it was "motivated by animus and a desire to harm" immigrants arriving from Latin America. (Cowan and Stempel, 6/26)
The Hill: HHS Sued For Documents Related To Child Separation Policy
A government watchdog on Tuesday sued the Trump administration for documents related to migrant children being separated from their families at the U.S. border. Equity Forward, which describes itself as a reproductive health watchdog group, filed a lawsuit after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) failed to respond to four Freedom of Information Act requests, the first being filed in January. (Hellmann, 6/26)
The New York Times: Federal Judge In California Halts Splitting Of Migrant Families At Border
A federal judge in California issued a nationwide injunction late Tuesday temporarily stopping the Trump administration from separating children from their parents at the border and ordered that all families already separated be reunited within 30 days. Judge Dana M. Sabraw of the Federal District Court in San Diego said children under 5 must be reunited with their parents within 14 days, and he ordered that all children must be allowed to talk to their parents within 10 days. (Shear, Hirschfeld Davis, Kaplan and Pear, 6/26)
The Wall Street Journal: Judge Orders Migrant Families Separated At Border To Be Reunited Within 30 Days
The nationwide preliminary injunction by U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw late Tuesday comes in a class action brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of parents who had been separated from children after crossing the border and detained in immigration custody. The order requires the federal government to reunite all children within 30 days and those younger than 5 within two weeks. Judge Sabraw said that for now, parents can no longer be detained or deported without their children unless the minors are found to be in danger or the parents have consented. (Randazzo, 6/27)
Los Angeles Times: California Federal Judge Orders Separated Children Reunited With Parents Within 30 Days
In a strongly worded opinion, U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw wrote “the facts set forth before the court portray reactive governance — responses to address a chaotic circumstance of the government’s own making. They belie measured and ordered governance, which is central to the concept of due process enshrined in our Constitution. ”Under the order, children younger than 5 years old must be reunited with their parents within 14 days, while older children must be reunited with their parents within 30 days. Within 10 days, federal authorities must allow parents to call their children if they're not already in contact with them. (Tchekmedyian and Davis, 6/27)
The Associated Press: Unclear Math: HHS Has 2,047 Children; Full US Count Lacking
The number of migrant children in custody after being separated from their parents barely dropped since last week, even as Trump administration said it's doing everything possible to expedite family reunification. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told senators at a hearing Tuesday that his agency currently has 2,047 migrant children — or six fewer than the total HHS count last week. (6/26)
Politico: Doctors Say Migrant Children Separated From Their Parents Will Face Lasting Ills
Lawyers challenging the Trump administration’s family separation policies are getting strong backing from the medical community. In several recent lawsuits, legal advocates are using statements signed by hundreds of physicians and medical experts warning that migrant children separated from their parents will face years of mental and physical illnesses. (Rayasam, 6/26)
Politico: Pulse Check: The Courts, Congress And The Migrant Crisis With Bob Carey
Bob Carey, who ran the HHS refugee office during the Obama administration, debunks myths about the migrant crisis. POLITICO reporters analyze the latest Supreme Court decisions and Congress' rush to pass opioid legislation. (6/26)
