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Manchin leads push to end family policy on immigration

From staff reports

PARKERSBURG – With Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, the entire Democratic membership of the U.S. Senate has sponsored a bill to discontinue a Trump Administration policy to take children away from parents who attempt to illegally enter the country from Mexico.

Manchin on Monday became the 49th senator and last Democrat to sponsor the Keep Families Together Act. No Republicans have yet to sponsor the bill.

“As a father, grandfather, and Christian, I am wholeheartedly opposed to any policy that allows innocent children to be separated from their parents as they enter our country,” Manchin said. “We need to secure our borders and enforce our immigration laws, which is why I have voted multiple times on billions of dollars in border security, including a wall on our southern border.”

Forty-nine senators co-sponsored the bill. None were Republican.

“However, no law requires pulling children from the arms of their parents. That is why today I am signing onto the Keep Families Together Act because it is currently the only legislative vehicle we have to fix this problem,” Manchin said. “But I am actively working with my Republican colleagues to find solutions to the issues that are not addressed in the Keep Families Together Act and I continue to believe that the comprehensive 2013 immigration bill that included 700 miles of fencing, an addition 20,000 border control agents and other measures to secure our border is where we should begin this process.”

The Keep Families Together Act was introduced June 7 by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. Republicans control the Senate.

According to the bill, which has been referred to the Judiciary Committee, no child may be removed from a “parent or legal guardian solely for the policy goal of deterring individuals from migrating to the United States or for the policy goal of promoting compliance with civil immigration law.”

Separation of the child is authorized if the child is a victim of trafficking or is at significant risk of becoming a victim of trafficking, it’s likely the adult is not the parent or legal guardian of the child or the child is in danger of abuse or neglect at the hands of the parent or legal guard.

or is a danger to themselves or others. the bill said.

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