The Trump administration's zero-tolerance border policy has meant some 2,000 migrant children have been taken away from their families.
A new Quinnipiac Poll finds only 27 percent of Americans surveyed back the president's policy. And even as some in the GOP are urging Trump to change course, he is doubling down and blaming Democrats.
Michigan Radio's Stateside asked members of Michigan's congressional delegation if they support the president's policy of separating migrant children from their parents at the border, and isolating them in camps, shelters, and tent cities.
Eight of the nine Republicans did not respond: David Trott, Paul Mitchell, Jack Bergman, Bill Huizenga, John Moolenar, Fred Upton, Tim Walberg, and Mike Bishop.
Democratic Congressman Dan Kildee said the silence is as morally wrong as the policy itself.
"Silence supports the separation of children from their parents," Kildee told Stateside's Cynthia Canty. "If they are silent, they are endorsing this policy."
Justin Amash was the only Republican to respond to Michigan Radio's statement request. He sent a tweet on the subject from May 26:
When a family seeks asylum, the government shouldn’t forcibly separate a young child from a parent unless absolutely necessary. Such separations are inconsistent with our principles as Americans. Thanks to @Bethany for its work in behalf of these children. https://t.co/IN0jlDrhZq
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) May 26, 2018
Democratic members of Congress Debbie Dingell, Brenda Lawrence, and Sander Levin have also condemned the policy as morally wrong.
Rep. Kildee also told Stateside that President Trump's claims of blaming the policy on Democrats means "he is either lying or he's stupid."
Democrats can fix their forced family breakup at the Border by working with Republicans on new legislation, for a change! This is why we need more Republicans elected in November. Democrats are good at only three things, High Taxes, High Crime and Obstruction. Sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 16, 2018
"It's morally reprehansible, and I think anyone, anyone who looks at this, including independent fact-checkers, will see that this is a policy of Donald Trump," said Kildee. "It's a policy that he crafted and that his administration is enacting. And for him to imply that somehow he's bound by law to rip a child out of the arms of its mother is insanity. It's just pure insanity."
Listen to the full interview with Rep. Kildee above
