Supporters of the current administration’s policy of “zero tolerance” for the federal misdemeanor of illegal entry appear to believe that the vast majority of those seeking asylum are actually dangerous criminals intent on “infesting” the United States. Congressional representative Roger Marshall (R-KS), interviewed by Chris Hayes earlier today, referred to “people that are doing human trafficking, terrorists and cartel members using young kids” as the typical border crossers “posing as families”, even though when pressed by Chris Hayes for evidence, he could only say that the DHS reassured him that it is the truth.
For a more accurate understanding of a typical asylum seeker, watch this interview by MSNBC’s Trymaine Lee of an El Salvadoran mother who sought refuge with her husband and their two children, a four-year old and a fourteen-month old. When the husband presented himself for asylum with the fourteen-month old, the infant was taken from him without explanation and it took eighty-five days for the mother to be reunited with her infant. The father is still in custody.
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