WASHINGTON – Tens of thousands of protesters marched in cities across theUnited States to demand the Trump administration reverse an immigrationcrackdown that has separated children from parents at the US-Mexico borderand led to plans for military-run detention camps.
Outside the White House, protesters waved “Families Belong Together” signsand chanted “Shame!” as religious leaders and activists urged theadministration to be more welcoming of foreigners and to reunite families.
“The way they treat families, the way they treat immigrants, that’s notAmerica,” said protester Aneice Germain of President Donald Trump’s toughstance on immigration, a cornerstone of his 2016 election campaign and hispresidency. Trump was out of town at a golf club he owns in Bedminster, NewJersey.
Trump says illegal immigration fosters crime and he implemented a “zerotolerance” policy in May to prosecute all immigrants apprehended forentering illegally. That led to the separation of more than 2,000 childrenfrom their parents, causing an outcry this month, even from some allies ofthe Republican president.
In a rare retreat on an issue that fires up his conservative base, Trump onJune 20 ordered officials to detain families together.
Thousands of protesters in New York marched across the Brooklyn Bridgebearing signs with slogans like “Make America Humane Again” and “ImmigrantsAre Welcome Here.” On the US-Mexico border, demonstrators partially blockeda bridge connecting El Paso, Texas with Ciudad Juarez in Mexico.
In Chicago, thousands gathered to march toward the offices of federalimmigration authorities. “I’m here because families belong together,” saidCindy Curry of Westchester, Illinois.A federal judge has ordered familiesbe reunited and the administration asked the military to house immigrantfamilies, leading the Pentagon to mull the construction of soft-sided campfacilities.
Organizers estimated 30,000 people had gathered in central Washington. Thepeaceful protest appeared to be the largest pro-immigration demonstrationin the US capital since at least 2010, when activists rallied to pressurethen-President Barack Obama and Congress to overhaul the US immigrationsystem.
A splinter group of several dozen protesters in Washington went to protestat what they said was the residence of Stephen Miller, a White Houseadviser known for his hardline views on immigration. It was the latest in astring of public protests against Trump administration officials. -Agencies