SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
"I am today calling on the architect of this humanitarian disaster, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen, to step down," declared Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) on Tuesday. (Photo: C-SPAN/Screenshot)
Sen. Durbin Tells 'Architect of This Humanitarian Disaster' Kirstjen Nielsen: Resign
"I am today calling on the architect of this humanitarian disaster... to step down."
Jul 31, 2018
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Il.) on Tuesday called on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to "step down" for her direct role in Trump administration's cruel and ongoing policy of separating immigration families and detaining children away from their parents and loved ones.
"Incredibly," Durbin declared at the opening of a Senate committee hearing on the crisis created by the president and executed by her department, "Nielsen claimed, 'We do not have a policy of separating families at the border. Period.' But it was on her watch and under her leadership that nearly 2,700 children were separated from their parents, and more than 700 children still have not been reunited with their families - including more than 400 whose parents were apparently deported and more than 90 whose parents can't be located at all."
Calling the detention of children and the breaking up of families as a violation of nation's "bedrock values," Durbin announced his belief that someone in the administration--if not the president--would have to be held responsible for the situation.
"What will become of these children and their parents, who border agents called, 'deleted family units'? In the name of these 'deleted family units,' 711 'lost children,' and common decency," he added, "I am today calling on the architect of this humanitarian disaster, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen, to step down."
Watch Durbin's remarks in full:
An Unconstitutional Rampage
Trump and Musk are on an unconstitutional rampage, aiming for virtually every corner of the federal government. These two right-wing billionaires are targeting nurses, scientists, teachers, daycare providers, judges, veterans, air traffic controllers, and nuclear safety inspectors. No one is safe. The food stamps program, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are next. It’s an unprecedented disaster and a five-alarm fire, but there will be a reckoning. The people did not vote for this. The American people do not want this dystopian hellscape that hides behind claims of “efficiency.” Still, in reality, it is all a giveaway to corporate interests and the libertarian dreams of far-right oligarchs like Musk. Common Dreams is playing a vital role by reporting day and night on this orgy of corruption and greed, as well as what everyday people can do to organize and fight back. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover issues the corporate media never will, but we can only continue with our readers’ support. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Il.) on Tuesday called on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to "step down" for her direct role in Trump administration's cruel and ongoing policy of separating immigration families and detaining children away from their parents and loved ones.
"Incredibly," Durbin declared at the opening of a Senate committee hearing on the crisis created by the president and executed by her department, "Nielsen claimed, 'We do not have a policy of separating families at the border. Period.' But it was on her watch and under her leadership that nearly 2,700 children were separated from their parents, and more than 700 children still have not been reunited with their families - including more than 400 whose parents were apparently deported and more than 90 whose parents can't be located at all."
Calling the detention of children and the breaking up of families as a violation of nation's "bedrock values," Durbin announced his belief that someone in the administration--if not the president--would have to be held responsible for the situation.
"What will become of these children and their parents, who border agents called, 'deleted family units'? In the name of these 'deleted family units,' 711 'lost children,' and common decency," he added, "I am today calling on the architect of this humanitarian disaster, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen, to step down."
Watch Durbin's remarks in full:
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Il.) on Tuesday called on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to "step down" for her direct role in Trump administration's cruel and ongoing policy of separating immigration families and detaining children away from their parents and loved ones.
"Incredibly," Durbin declared at the opening of a Senate committee hearing on the crisis created by the president and executed by her department, "Nielsen claimed, 'We do not have a policy of separating families at the border. Period.' But it was on her watch and under her leadership that nearly 2,700 children were separated from their parents, and more than 700 children still have not been reunited with their families - including more than 400 whose parents were apparently deported and more than 90 whose parents can't be located at all."
Calling the detention of children and the breaking up of families as a violation of nation's "bedrock values," Durbin announced his belief that someone in the administration--if not the president--would have to be held responsible for the situation.
"What will become of these children and their parents, who border agents called, 'deleted family units'? In the name of these 'deleted family units,' 711 'lost children,' and common decency," he added, "I am today calling on the architect of this humanitarian disaster, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen, to step down."
Watch Durbin's remarks in full:
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.