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Trump: “I’ll be signing something in a little while”

Posted at 11:04 AM, Jun 20, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-20 13:04:05-04

President Trump says he will sign "something" in the near future that will end family separation at the southern border. 

"I’ll be signing something in a little while that’s going to do that," Mr. Trump said during a Wednesday meeting with members of Congress at the White House. "I’ll be doing something that’s somewhat preemptive and ultimately will be matched by legislation I’m sure." 

Family separation has seen a recent uptick due to Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ "zero-tolerance" policy for illegal entry at the U.S.-Mexico border. Because any illegal border crossing is prosecuted, parents and children are separated during the legal process.

Mr. Trump opened his remarks on immigration saying that Republicans want security and to keep families together. 

The president announced that he will be canceling the congressional picnic, saying that it "didn’t feel right" to him.

"We want to solve this immigration problem," Mr. Trump said.

This meeting marks Mr. Trump’s second meeting with Congress this week, following his meeting with House GOP members Tuesday, in the midst of a backlash over the separation of immigrant children from their parents who enter the country illegally through the southern border.

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen is drafting an executive action for Mr. Trump that would direct DHS to keep families together in detention.

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