Monday, June 18

A chorus of leading Republicans joined Democrats in calling for an end to President TrumpÕs Òzero toleranceÓ immigration policy that separates families at the border, a practice that has placed over 2,000 children into the custody of U.S. immigration authorities. While Trump did not directly address the rising political crisis, first lady Melania Trump entered the fray. She said she Òhates to see children separated from their families and hopes both sides of the aisle can finally come together.Ó

As the number of children being separated from their families grows, increasing numbers of parents are being deported to their countries of origin — without their children. This creates a legal limbo for the children, who now assume the status of illegal immigrants and wards of the state.

President Trump doubled down on his Òzero toleranceÓ immigration policy that has separated thousands of children from their parents at the border. ÒThey could be murderers and thieves and so much else,Ó the president said, ÒWe want a safe country, and it starts with the borders, and thatÕs the way it is.Ó Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Kirstjen Nielsen, the secretary of homeland security, both defended the policy, arguing that the administration had no other choice.

Tuesday, June 19

Republicans on Capitol Hill struggled to devise a plan that would end the Trump administration policy of separating children from their families. The Senate had one plan and the House of Representatives had another. But Trump rejected both approaches, preferring instead to falsely blame Democrats for the crisis, and demanding a complete overhaul of immigration policy, a process that would take months to complete.

Wednesday, June 20

Responding to a firestorm of political pressure, Trump signed an executive order to abandon his policy of separating parents from their children at the border. ÒWeÕre going to have strong — very strong — borders,Ó the president said, Òbut we are going to keep the families together.Ó TrumpÕs new policy essentially reinstates the Obama policy that some  call Òcatch and release.Ó

Thursday, June 21

In a move to placate conservatives who seek to cut social service and safety net programs, President Trump unveiled a plan to merge the Labor and Education departments. Critics charge the move would make it easier to slash popular entitlement programs in future. Budget director Mick Mulvaney conceded that the proposal is unlikely to meet with Congressional approval.

The Pentagon is preparing to receive and house 20,000 Òunaccompanied alien childrenÓ at bases in Arkansas and Texas said spokesman, Lt. Col. Michael Andrews. It is not clear if the military intends to house the parents of the children as well. There was widespread confusion among immigration officials following TrumpÕs executive order to end family separations.

Friday, June 22

In a major victory for privacy advocates in the digital age, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the government must obtain a warrant to collect location data about cellphone use from telecommunication companies. ÒWe decline to grant the state unrestricted access to a wireless carrierÕs database of physical location information,Ó Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote for the majority.

President Trump invited families to the White House who had been victimized by undocumented immigrants. The president lamented the Òdeath and destruction caused by people that shouldnÕt be here,Ó and said that Democrats and the news media did not care. But statistics and studies do not back up TrumpÕs assertions. One study after another shows that crime is down, and immigrants are far less likely to engage in criminal activity than native born American citizens.

Saturday, June 23

Tony Martinez, the mayor of border town Brownsville, Texas said there is no immigration crisis, contradicting repeated assertions by President Trump. ÒThere is not a crisis in the city of Brownsville with regards to safety and security,Ó the mayor said, ÒMost of the people that are migrating are from Central America. ItÕs not like theyÕre coming over here to try to take anybodyÕs job. TheyÕre trying to just save their own lives.Ó

Sunday, June 24

In an assumption of vast executive powers, Trump proposed eliminating due process for immigrants arrested at the borders. He tweeted, ÒWe cannot allow all of these people to invade our Country. When somebody comes in, we must immediately, with no Judges or Court Cases, bring them back from where they came.Ó TrumpÕs call to suspend due process for immigrants faced serious constitutional impediments, as well as opposition from Republicans in Congress, who favor increasing the number of judges so that migrant cases can be handled more quickly.