AUSTIN — Outgoing Texas House Speaker Joe Straus on Tuesday sent President Donald Trump a letter asking him to immediately rescind his administration's zero-tolerance policy, which has led to the separation of thousands of immigrant children from their families upon arriving at the U.S. border.

"I know that members of Congress from both parties have proposed various ways to address this issue in the forms of legislation, and while I applaud their attention to the problem, I also know that congressional action often does not come quickly," Straus wrote. "There is no need to wait for Congress to act. That's why I respectfully ask that you move immediately to rescind the policy that General Sessions announced in April and any other policies that have led to an increase in family separations at the border."

Straus' request is the strongest pushback from any of the "Big 3" leaders in the Capitol — Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and the House speaker — against the zero-tolerance policy that presses criminal charges against anyone caught illegally crossing the border.

The policy has led to the separation of nearly 2,000 children from their families and has sparked an outrage that has reached a boiling point over the last week.

On Monday, state lawmakers began calling on Abbott to intercede on behalf of immigrant children to Trump. Abbott has not responded to those requests publicly.

"You have publicly suggested that your administration may end these policies if congressional Democrats agree to some of your border security objectives and positions. But it is wrong to use these scared vulnerable children as a negotiation tool," Straus wrote to Trump. "Their suffering should also not be used to deter illegal immigration. I believe it's important to start by halting the administration policies that have expanded forced family separations and then go about the work of reforming our immigration system and protecting public safety along the border and across our country."

"Please listen to the growing number of Americans, faith leaders and elected officials from both parties who are voicing our concerns about this growing crisis," Straus continued. "This is not a binary choice between rampant crime and tearing families apart. In light of potential harm being inflicted on these children and the ambiguity about their status after they're removed from these facilities, I ask that you please immediately rescind directives that have resulted in the increase in separations of children from their migrant parents."

Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, as well as state Reps. Jason Villalba, R- Dallas, and Cesar Blanco, D-El Paso, have expressed concern with the administration's policies.

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