However, recent developments in the Immigration debate seem to have caused republicans and democrats to join forces against the President. As much as it is important that all of Congress works together, why did it take this long to get them there? Trump has been making outrageous statements since the beginning of his campaign, so why did it take this long to unite the political parties on both sides of the aisle?
Now what exactly was the twig that broke the camel's back? The separation of immigrant children from their parent’s at the border. This situation has become so toxic ever since video of these children - in what are no better than cages - went viral online that lawmakers across the country are desperate for solutions. But with Trump stepping out every five minutes on video or on Twitter to condemn the parents of the children or the children themselves, Congress may never be able to make any real decisions and overcome all of the shifting of blame.
As a Millenial, I am constantly accused of being anti-government or anti-Trump - just on principle rather than because of all of the idiotic stunts he has pulled in years past - so it is very difficult for me to approach these topics with the current governing class. Though I do not agree than anyone in this situation is completely blameless, the amount of grey areas in this situation is expansive.
To start: everyone in this situation can take some of the blame. The parents for dragging their kids across the border illegally are the ones who put their kids in this situation; however the government officials who are placing the children in these situations are far from innocent. These kids are being treated like property and there is no one defending them, which seems to have softened even the hardest heart in Congress. The only people in this situation who are free of blame are the poor children who desperately need help.
So how did this drive a wedge between Congress and Trump? Well if we look at it from a big picture standpoint, Trump’s cabinet have taken the stance that what is being done is simply enforcing the current legislation and that if Congress is that upset about it they need to rewrite current law.
- This is both true and false. Though the separation isn’t illegal, what Congress is calling into question is not the legality more so than the humanitarian aspect of the law.
- Similarly with DACA, Congress is faced with a decision of whether or not it is morally just to treat other humans - regardless of what they have done, and especially children - in this manner.
Two officials are currently leading the way to create a solution - Sen. Ted Cruz and Majority Whip John Cornyn - both from Texas; practically Ground Zero for the immigration debate. Both are working on fixes for this situation, but according to many in Congress every current proposal are - to use Nancy Pelosi’s words a “cruel sham that does nothing” to bring an end to the division of families at the border. And with a deadline for a vote approaching quickly and social media outrage likely to revival the beginnings of the #MeToo movement, Congress is stuck between a rock and a hard place.
To put it bluntly, there is slim to no chance that Congress will be able to come to a consensus and pass an immigration bill of any consequence. One of the biggest reasons this is the case is because according to the Trump camp, Trump will only consider signing legislation that will include provisions for funding that border wall he just doesn’t want to give up on. Despite all of this, Cornyn still believes that the Senate will do something the end the family separation by the end of the week. As hopeful as this sounds, with how toxic and divided this issue has become in the political arena, I am skeptical at best that any decision will be made anytime soon. Especially with these provisions being made by Trump’s cabinet of oligarchs.
So where does that leave us?
To use one word: screwed. It is clear that someone in this situation is going to have to give in at least a little to make any real change happen that will end this separation of families. All of this is a crapshoot. The children in this situation are being treated no better than animals and the parents are being treated like criminals. Meanwhile, Trump and Congress are having a cage match to see who will tap out first.
Ted Cruz - as much as it pains me to agree with him - has a point where Trump needs to come to his senses. Especially since he can’t even agree with himself; as today in a press conference he went against his own policy. With all of the confusion and anger in the situation, everyone needs to stop worrying about what a decision they make will do to their political image or what it does to them as this isn’t about them. This is about the children who are scared, lost and alone. Regardless of them being foreigners or immigrants, purple or brown or white, these are children and they are the future of the world. And you cannot choose not to care about something this horrific based strictly on the fact that the situation doesn’t directly affect you.
So what is my solution? I don’t have one. This is a messy, messy situation and the only way we are going to see any change is if we all stop yelling and trying to be the “most correct” and putting the wellbeing of these children above all else.