California joins multistate lawsuit challenging family separation policy
                 Source: Xinhua | 2018-06-22 05:57:50 | Editor: huaxia

Children, with their faces covered with masks, are escorted out of the Cayuga Center, which provides foster care and other services to immigrant children separated from their families, in New York City, the United States, June 21, 2018. (REUTERS Photo)

LOS ANGELES, June 21 (Xinhua) -- California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced Thursday the Golden State will join a coalition of 10 states in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration's family separation policy on illegal immigration.

California Department of Justice announced the move in a press release, saying Washington's controversial practice of forcibly separating children from their parents crossing the U.S. border illegally is a "cruel and unlawful policy ... without any legitimate justification."

"Children belong with their families, not alone and fearful in metal cages. We are filing this lawsuit because ripping children from their parents is unlawful, wrong and heartless," said Becerra in the press release.

He also said the executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Wednesday to end the practice is "empty and meaningless", since the tragedy stemmed from the policies that the president "put in place himself as a political stunt."

"This policy could have devastating consequences on children's health and well being. Dividing families who are being persecuted and fleeing violence is simply appalling," he said.

The lawsuit, led by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, will allege that the Trump administration's family separation policy violates the fundamental due process rights of parents to be together with their children, as well as other constitutional and statutory claims.

Meanwhile, the press release said, these states ask the Trump administration in the lawsuit to "immediately address the inadequacies in the President's executive order and create a process to reunify the thousands of families torn apart by his cruel and unconstitutional policy."

After the announcement, Becerra tweeted on his official page, "We, along with a coalition of concerned states, are suing the #Trump Administration over its family separation policy. Children belong with their families, not alone and fearful in metal cages. #KeepFamiliesTogether."

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California joins multistate lawsuit challenging family separation policy

Source: Xinhua 2018-06-22 05:57:50

Children, with their faces covered with masks, are escorted out of the Cayuga Center, which provides foster care and other services to immigrant children separated from their families, in New York City, the United States, June 21, 2018. (REUTERS Photo)

LOS ANGELES, June 21 (Xinhua) -- California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced Thursday the Golden State will join a coalition of 10 states in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration's family separation policy on illegal immigration.

California Department of Justice announced the move in a press release, saying Washington's controversial practice of forcibly separating children from their parents crossing the U.S. border illegally is a "cruel and unlawful policy ... without any legitimate justification."

"Children belong with their families, not alone and fearful in metal cages. We are filing this lawsuit because ripping children from their parents is unlawful, wrong and heartless," said Becerra in the press release.

He also said the executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Wednesday to end the practice is "empty and meaningless", since the tragedy stemmed from the policies that the president "put in place himself as a political stunt."

"This policy could have devastating consequences on children's health and well being. Dividing families who are being persecuted and fleeing violence is simply appalling," he said.

The lawsuit, led by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, will allege that the Trump administration's family separation policy violates the fundamental due process rights of parents to be together with their children, as well as other constitutional and statutory claims.

Meanwhile, the press release said, these states ask the Trump administration in the lawsuit to "immediately address the inadequacies in the President's executive order and create a process to reunify the thousands of families torn apart by his cruel and unconstitutional policy."

After the announcement, Becerra tweeted on his official page, "We, along with a coalition of concerned states, are suing the #Trump Administration over its family separation policy. Children belong with their families, not alone and fearful in metal cages. #KeepFamiliesTogether."

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