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Bonamici calls for family reunifications during meeting with immigrant leaders

July 9, 2018

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, met with immigrant leaders about family separations Monday.

She toured the Sheridan facility where several detained immigrants have been separated from their children.

She said the Trump administration must stop decriminalizing asylum seekers.

Tuesday is the deadline for the administration to reunite children under age five with their parents after separations at the southern border. However, the justice department is expected to miss the deadline with less than half of children actually set to be reunited.

"That is completely unacceptable," Bonamici said. "There's a court order requiring these young children to be reunited with their families, and it doesn't look like they're going to comply with that deadline tomorrow."

She said she's highly skeptical the administration will comply with the deadline in a month either.

Officials said they're still working on background checks and DNA testing to confirm family relationships.

Issues:Civil Rights