On Thursday, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions cited a Bible verse to justify the Trump administration’s practice of separating migrant families who cross the border into the U.S. illegally.

“I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained them for the purpose of order,” Sessions said during a speech in Fort Wayne, Indiana. “Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves and protect the weak and lawful.”

Sessions’ comments come as the Trump administration faces intense backlash for implementing a “zero tolerance” policy at the border by criminally prosecuting migrants entering the country illegally and separating migrant parents facing prosecution from their children during the process.

Later in the day, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders also invoked the Bible to defend the policy, saying “it is very biblical to enforce the law.”

CNN’s Jim Acosta pressed her to cite chapter and verse specifically on the policy of separating families.

“I know it’s hard for you to understand even short sentences, I guess, but please don’t take my words out of context,” Sanders responded.

Despite Sessions and Sanders’ use of the Bible, various Christian groups have expressed outrage over the policy.

The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) called the policy immoral at the group’s annual meeting on Wednesday.

“Our government has the discretion in our laws to ensure that young children are not separated from their parents and exposed to irreparable harm and trauma. Families are the foundational element of our society and they must be able to stay together,” USCCB’s president, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo said.

The Southern Baptist Convention, which is a conservative evangelical denomination, called on Tuesday for immigration reform that includes “the priority of family unity.”

“We declare that any form of nativism, mistreatment, or exploitation is inconsistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ,” the resolution said.

Watch the video below.

AG Jeff Sessions on immigration policy: Illegal entry into the US is a crime; "I would cite you to the apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained the government for his purposes." https://t.co/dARdLrNPbW pic.twitter.com/nu5EWCWlJW — CNN (@CNN) June 14, 2018

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