Chief Acevedo and other law enforcement slam Trump's family separation policy

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo talks about the ATFs mobile National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) van Thursday, April 19, 2018, in Houston. The ATF Houston Field Division and the Houston Police Department unveiled the NIBIN van Thursday. Police hope the unit will help them respond to shooting cases more quickly, and is part of an effort by the federal agency to help local municipalities crack down on gun crime. ( Godofredo A. Vasquez / Houston Chronicle ) less Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo talks about the ATFs mobile National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) van Thursday, April 19, 2018, in Houston. The ATF Houston Field Division and the Houston ... more Photo: Godofredo A. Vasquez / Houston Chronicle Photo: Godofredo A. Vasquez / Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Chief Acevedo and other law enforcement slam Trump's family separation policy 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

Law enforcement leaders in Houston and elsewhere joined in Sunday on condemning President Donald Trump's 'zero-tolerance' immigration policy, which is leading to the separation of thousands of young children from their parents in recent weeks.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said Sunday that children should not be kept in immigration detention centers and said the current situation highlights Congress' failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

"Separating families harms children," Gonzalez said. "To me, it's an affront to our American values."

U.S. Attorney Jeff Sessions has defended Trump's decision to prosecute unlawful immigrants as criminals by arguing the separations deter illegal immigration.

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The policy has drawn increased attention as the Trump administration has announced plans to house children in a tent city in West Texas and as stories have circulated of breastfeeding children being taken from their mothers, social workers being barred by policy from hugging or comforting distraught children, or of parents being deported back to their home countries without their children.

As criticism of the practice has mounted, Trump has falsely blamed Democrats for the separation of families.

"Democrats can fix their forced family breakup at the Border by working with Republicans on new legislation, for a change!" Trump tweeted Saturday.

Police Chief Art Acevedo posted several tweets over the weekend excoriating the separations and calling for Trump and other elected officials to end the practice.

"History & God will be unkind to those who are silent or support this oppressive, inhumane, unGodly policy," Acevedo wrote in a post Sunday. "God is watching us, we can't hide from him."

We have 600,000+ immigrants in this city and ensuring they trust their police department is critical to our mission of keeping our city safe. Messages like yours must be what the German Police were told leading up to the Holocaust. Not this chief, not this Nation, not his time! — Chief Art Acevedo (@ArtAcevedo) June 17, 2018

Chris Magnus, police chief in Tucson, Arizona, wrote that the practice raised "troubling questions" for police chiefs who cooperate with immigration enforcement that separates parents from children.

"Is this consistent with the oath you took to serve & protect?," he wrote Saturday afternoon. "Is this humane or moral? Does this make your community safer?"

And Lupe Valdez, the former sheriff of Dallas County who is now running as the Democratic candidate for governor against incumbent Greg Abbott, announced she would be marching in protest with other elected officials outside of a detention center in Tornillo in West Texas.

"Many parents and children have been torn apart," she wrote in a tweet Sunday morning. "March, call your elected officials or donate to an organization doing work on the ground. This inhumanity is already a dark chapter in our history. We must take action to end it."

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Rick Myers, executive director of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, said the organization hadn't taken a position on the separations, but said many individual members "have pretty strong feelings" on them.

"The activities cited that are emotional to watch don't involve local police," he said. "I would urge if anyone has concerns is to call local police department --- will learn more than likely not involved in those activities."

Chuck Wexler, of the Police Executive Research Forum, a national law enforcement research organization, said police chiefs have traditionally been reluctant to get involved in immigration enforcement activities over concerns about immigrant communities losing trust in their local police.

"Federal immigration practices that separate children from their parents are inhumane and extremely damaging to trust in law enforcement agencies at all levels," he said.

St. John Barned-Smith covers public safety and major breaking news for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Send tips to st.john.smith@chron.com.