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Keeping Children, Parents Together

Realistic new legislation is needed to address illegal immigration. President Donald Trump is right about that. He also is correct that Democrats in Congress have blocked some efforts in that regard.

Trump was right Wednesday, too, when he issued an executive order that men and women caught coming into the United States illegally are not to be separated from their children.

What to do about children brought across our southern border by adults is not an easy puzzle. For example, many illegal immigrants are charged with crimes. Sending their children to jail with them would not be appropriate.

Logistics are a concern, too. How to detain adult illegal immigrants securely while not holding their children under unpleasant conditions can be a challenge.

So precisely what immigration officials will do to comply with Trump’s order remains in question.

They will need to come up with something — in a matter of days, not weeks or months.

As many as 2,000 children have been taken from their parents after the families crossed the border into the United States during the past few months. On-the-scene reports of the separations, then the children being detained in facilities away from their mothers and fathers, are heartbreaking. There is no other word for it.

Are many of their parents criminals, according to the law? Yes. Will many of the families be sent back to their home countries? Yes.

But should little boys and girls be forcibly taken from their parents while their futures are determined?

No.

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