Jeff Sessions threw down the gauntlet today when elaborating on his new zero-tolerance policy, pointing out that it could end up separating families who smuggle children across the border. But he says that’s not our fault and if you don’t want that to happen, don’t smuggle children across the border!
Watch (it’s cued up to 4:38):
Here’s the important part:
If you cross this border unlawfully, even a first a first office, then we will prosecute you. Those cases are up about double last year and we’re going to go higher this year.
It’s an offense to enter the country unlawfully!
If you smuggle illegal aliens across our border, then we will prosecute you for smuggling.
If you are smuggling a child, then we will prosecute you and that child will be separated from you, probably, as required by law. If you don’t want your child to be separated, then don’t bring them across the border illegally! It’s not our fault that somebody does that!
If you make false statements to an immigration officer or commit fraud in our system to obtain an immigration benefit, that’s a felony too. We will put you in jail if you qualify.
If you help others to do so, that’s a felony, too.
In order to carry out these important new enforcement policies, I have sent 35 prosecutors to the Southwest and moved 18 immigration judges to the border. And we’re going to move others. Our US attorneys are committed to this.
Man I really like this kind of tough talk when it comes to illegal immigration, especially when I know it’s being followed up with tough enforcement. This is one reason that I love Sessions being AG. He’s tough on the border which is exactly what we all expected.
You can read the entire speech here or you can watch part of it below: