Babies and toddlers are in jail because of the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” border policy, and Republican members of Congress running for re-election in competitive districts are avoiding blaming the president, who last month instituted the “zero tolerance policy” separating families who cross the border illegally — and even some seeking asylum.

“It is our duty as an American government to deal compassionately with any child from any nation just as it is the responsibility of foreign families seeking asylum in the U.S. to choose only legal means to enter our nation so they can avoid family disruption,” Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) said in a statement. “I am confident this process will be improved.”

Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) reprimanded a constituent for even asking him about the issue. “We want to make sure that kids stay with their parents,” he said on camera. “I’m a father. The kids stay with their parents. You can turn that off. You don’t have to put that in my face. That’s very rude. That’s very rude.”

Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) said in a statement that nobody wants to see kids separated from their families, but at the same time, “[t]here are certain circumstances under which immigration officials are required to separate children from accompanying adults.”


ThinkProgress looked at 26 of the most vulnerable Republican candidates running for re-election in November. Eleven were critical of the policy, but did not extend the criticism to the president or his administration. Only four more blamed Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the Department of Homeland Security, or the Trump administration. Two of the 26 have not commented at all. None of them have criticized President Trump directly.

Many have leaned into the Trump administration’s rhetoric, saying that although they oppose the policy, they believe the administration should “follow the law,” despite the fact that there is no law requiring family separation at the border.

Last Friday on a press call, Trump administration officials offered for the first time concrete numbers concerning the number of children who have been separated from their parents in recent weeks: From April 19 through May 31, authorities detained 1,995 minors traveling with 1,940 adults.

Here are what 26 vulnerable Republicans had to say about the policy:

Jeff Denham (R-CA)

Critical of policy? Yes

Critical of Trump administration? No

Blaming Democrats? No

“Neither party should want to separate kids from their parents,” Denham said in a recent CNN interview.

David Valadao (R-CA)

Critical of policy? Yes

Critical of Trump administration? No

Blaming Democrats? No

“The substantial increase of minors at our southern border is both a humanitarian and national security crisis,” Valadao said in a statement. “While we must work towards a solution that reduces the occurrence of illegal border crossings, it is unacceptable to separate young children from their parents. This is exactly why passage of a compromise solution, such as that being discussed in Congress right now, is absolutely necessary.”

Steve Knight (R-CA)

Critical of policy? Yes

Critical of Trump administration? No

Blaming Democrats? No

“I understand that our country’s immigration system is in dire need of reform and I absolutely oppose the practice of separating children from their parents at the border,” Knight said in a statement.


“Right now, I am actively working with my colleagues on legislation that would end this practice. Additionally, I am pursuing solutions that will strengthen security along the southern border as well as provide a permanent solution for DACA recipients… [The issue] has risen to the forefront over the last month or so because of this general zero-tolerance policy,” he said. “We believe border security should be tightened. We believe in the rule of law, but we also believe you can do this humanely.”



Mimi Walters (R-CA)

Critical of policy? Yes

Critical of Trump administration? No

Blaming Democrats? No

“As a mother, I strongly oppose the separation of children from their parents at the border,” Walters said.

Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)

No comment.

Mike Coffman (R-CO)

Critical of policy? Yes

Critical of Trump administration? No

Blaming Democrats? No

Coffman said on Twitter he would support a bill introduced by Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) to end family separation at the border or any other “reasonable option,” adding, “Tearing children from the arms of parents and then isolating them alone is antithetical to the America I grew up in and the America I have fought many times to defend. This isn’t who we are. My colleagues should mark their words and this moment — history won’t remember well those who support the continuation of this policy.”

My statement regarding the “zero tolerance” policy that has forced the separation of children from their parents at the United States – Mexico border: pic.twitter.com/b7KlmE1ltE — Rep. Mike Coffman (@RepMikeCoffman) June 18, 2018

But Coffman did not go so far as to blame Trump for the policy, saying in an interview with NPR that Trump “realizes that it’s problematic and that it has to go, and it has to be changed.”

Brian Mast (R-FL)

Critical of policy? Yes

Critical of Trump administration? No

Blaming Democrats? No

“It is our duty as an American government to deal compassionately with any child from any nation just as it is the responsibility of foreign families seeking asylum in the U.S. to choose only legal means to enter our nation so they can avoid family disruption,” Mast said in a statement “I am confident this process will be improved.”

Carlos Curbelo (R-FL)

Critical of policy? Yes

Critical of Trump administration? No

Blaming Democrats? Yes

“The separation of parents from children is always a tragedy. While some tolerated it when it happened under the previous administration, I found it unacceptable then & I find it unacceptable now,” Curbelo tweeted. “We’re crafting legislation to remedy this sad situation.”

Rod Blum (R-IA)

No comment.

David Young (R-IA)

Critical of policy? Yes

Critical of Trump administration? No

Blaming Democrats? No

“Iowans sent me to Congress to represent their values and those don’t include separating families at the border,” Young said in a recent tweet. “Congress should act to keep families together.”

Peter Roskam (R-IL)

Critical of policy? Yes

Critical of Trump administration? Yes

Blaming Democrats? No

“The events unfolding at our nation’s borders are heartbreaking,” Roskam said in a statement. “Being forcibly separated from a child is a parent’s worst nightmare and I cannot fathom the pain these families are enduring. Every day these children spend apart from their parents confused, scared and alone inflicts additional and unnecessary trauma. Whatever circumstances, whatever violence these families faced in their home countries has driven them to these lengths. They have fled to the United States seeking refuge and safety and hopefully one day, a better life for their children.”


He went on, saying, “Dragging children away from their parents ought not be a part of the solution. I stand with residents of the Sixth District and urge the Department of Justice and Homeland Security to reverse the zero tolerance policy that removes children from their parents at the border.”

Randy Hultgren (R-IL)

Critical of policy? No

Critical of Trump administration? No

Blaming Democrats? No

“This afternoon we in the House will meet with President Trump, and I intend to share with him the outrage I and so many in our district and nation feel toward the unconscionable situation at the border,” Hultgren tweeted. I will continue to push for a humane and immediate solution. Our laws must be followed, but how we enforce those laws matters and reflects who we are as Americans.”

Bruce Poliquin (R-ME)

Critical of policy? No

Critical of Trump administration? No

Blaming Democrats? No

“We want to make sure that kids stay with their parents,” Poliquin told a Maine resident who asked him about the policy at an airport according to the Bangor Daily News. “I’m a father. The kids stay with their parents. You can turn that off. You don’t have to put that in my face. That’s very rude. That’s very rude.”

Jason Lewis (R-MN)

Critical of policy? Yes

Critical of Trump administration? No

Blaming Democrats? Yes

“Of course no one wants to see families needlessly separated — including the thousands of children who have been separated from their parents and sent on a perilous journey to the American border all alone,” Lewis said in a statement reported by the Twin Cities Pioneer Press. “That is dangerously irresponsible. I believe we can fix the current situation at the border with a solution that both increases our national security and is fair to all children, including those who are honestly trying to immigrate to our country.”

He went on to say that’s why he has supported legislation that would have provided a “real” fix to this problem and why he supports existing legislation.

He added, “Previous Administrations have enforced the same policies, which is why it is disturbing that people are seeking to exploit this issue for partisan gain depending on who’s in the White House.”

Erik Paulsen (R-MN)

Critical of policy? Yes

Critical of Trump administration? Yes

Blaming Democrats? No

“It’s heartbreaking to hear about the situation along our border and the stories of children being removed from their moms and dads,” Paulsen said in a statement. “As the parent of four daughters, I cannot imagine the fear, trauma and confusion these children are going through after being separated from their parents. The United States should not forcibly break up families. That is just not what America is about. These families are seeking to come to the United States for a multitude of reasons, but fundamentally it is to build a better life than they left behind in their home countries. We have a responsibility to secure our borders and enforce our laws. But how we enforce those laws is a reflection of our values and who we are as a country. Tearing families apart should not be our policy and the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security should reverse this decision.”

Don Bacon (R-NE)

Critical of policy? Yes

Critical of Trump administration? No

Blaming Democrats? No

“Families are the heart of our society and way of life,” Bacon said in a statement. “We should not be separating them at the border because of outdated and broken immigration policies, but instead protecting them by finding suitable shelter and speeding up the adjudication process. However, we cannot allow those involved in sex trafficking or those with criminal or terrorist ties to walk right in with people who simply want a better life. We expect to vote on two pieces of immigration legislation which will not only prioritize border security, but end family separation and curb illegal immigration.”

John Faso (R-NY)

Critical of policy? Yes

Critical of Trump administration? Yes

Blaming Democrats? No

“Congressman Faso believes this is a humanitarian issue and does not want children separated from their parents at the border,” his office said in a statement to Hudson 360. “He is reviewing recently released immigration legislation negotiated in the House of Representatives that would address this issue.”

In another statement on Twitter, Faso called the policy “wrong” and “needs to be addressed immediately.”

My latest on children being separated from their parents at the border: pic.twitter.com/yK7TB3tCJc — John Faso (@RepJohnFaso) June 19, 2018

During a CNN interview Wednesday morning, Faso disputed that families coming into the United States legally for asylum were being separated: “It’s only the people who illegally cross the border are being separated. There is a problem with the law and court decisions but I believe that if we can’t do it in this overall bill I’m talking about, we should do it separately. We should not have families being separated at the border despite they’re having crossed illegally.”

“For us to remedy this issue quickly, whether it’s in the overall bill that I support to deal with DACA and border security, that is critical for our country, but if we have to do it separately, I say we should do that as well and I would hope the administration would realize they should deal with this on their own without having us pass a law,” he added. Faso then then said he thought family separation was wrong, and agreed that the president could stop it with a phone call.

John Katko (R-NY)

Critical of policy? No

Critical of Trump administration? No

Blaming Democrats? No

“We must keep our borders secure, however, we must do so in a humane way that preserves family unity and keeps young children safe,” Katko said in a statement. “I urge the Administration to prioritize these principles in enforcing the laws of this country. Congress must also continue to work towards a permanent legislative solution to fix our nation’s broken immigration system. Over the past several weeks, I have been a key negotiator on a compromise bill which emphasizes keeping families together, enhances border security and provides status for Dreamers. I’m hopeful that we can pass this measure through the House this week.”

Steve Chabot (R-OH)

Critical of policy? No

Critical of Trump administration? No

Blaming Democrats? No

“No one wants to see children separated from their families,” Chabot said in a statement published by the Cincinnati Enquirer. “At the same time, immigration officials have a duty to protect children that come into their custody. There are certain circumstances under which immigration officials are required to separate children from accompanying adults, particularly when they fear the child may be in danger, they suspect human trafficking may be involved, or when the parents are subject to criminal prosecution.”

Chabot added that the House is “considering legislation” to end family separation.

Keith Rothfus (R-PA)

Critical of policy? No

Critical of Trump administration? No

Blaming Democrats? No

“Children should not be separated from their parents,” Rothfus told KDKA radio. “We gotta be very careful, we want to make sure the kids that are coming here are actually with their parents. We know we have had trafficking issues along the border.”

John Culberson (R-TX)

Critical of policy? No

Critical of Trump administration? No

Blaming Democrats? No

“It’s very unfortunate for these children that their parents chose to break the law, but young children should not be separated from their parents,” Culberson said in a statement. “I’m committed to finding a solution that preserves the respect for the rule of law and secures our borders while being compassionate to these young children. I believe that we must enforce our immigration laws and secure our borders.”

Culberson blamed “an existing court order” for the policy, echoing House Speaker Paul Ryan and said he was ready to “find a solution.”

Will Hurd (R-TX)

Critical of policy? Yes

Critical of Trump administration? Yes

Blaming Democrats? No

“I don’t think separating a kid from their mommy is going to prevent terrorists or drugs from coming into our country,” Hurd said in a CNN interview. “Jeff Sessions could change this today, this is something that is squarely within the hands of this administration to ultimately change.”

What I’ve seen in #Tornillo is a manifestation of a failed policy. This policy can and should be changed today. pic.twitter.com/kzB5xpH1dv — Rep. Will Hurd (@HurdOnTheHill) June 18, 2018

Pete Sessions (R-TX)

Critical of policy? No

Critical of Trump administration? No

Blaming Democrats? Yes

“Congressman Sessions obviously does not want actual families to be separated,” Sessions’ office said in a statement to Dallas’ NBC affiliate. “The Democrat talking points on this issue ignore important facts: Many of these children are NOT with their parents, instead they are being trafficked by drug cartels and human smugglers who are trying to gain access to our country; Rescuing these children from human traffickers is the most humane thing we can do; and it is documented that many of the girls who are turned over to these human traffickers never even reach the United States instead, they are forced into sex slavery to serve the drug cartels.”

Sessions went on to blame Democrats, saying they “continue to stand for broken policies that allow the lives of these children to be destroyed by the drug cartels, human traffickers, and the sex slave trade.”

Scott Taylor (R-VA)

Critical of policy? No

Critical of Trump administration? No

Blaming Democrats? Yes

“The issue at the border is a call to action for Congress,” Taylor said in a statement. “We have a responsibility to come together and forge a bipartisan solution that is decent, humane, and respects our rule of law. I have every confidence that the thousands of men and women who are honorably serving at our border are doing everything they can to uphold the law while attempting to keep families together. Congress should act immediately and appropriate additional funds for family shelters, reevaluate the Flores Consent Decree, and give greater discretionary authority to the administrative judges that are deciding the fate of these immigrant families. I believe this will better enable us to navigate this complex issue while enforcing our laws and keeping families intact.”

Taylor also tweeted in response to a question of why Republicans didn’t just fix the problem on their own: “I believe it should & can be fixed, along with immigration policies more broadly. There are not 60 Republicans in the Senate. Thus, Democrat votes are needed. Lots politicians talking a bunch & lots of hyperbole, but we can all act this week on it. I’m ready…are they?”

Barbara Comstock (R-VA)

Critical of policy? Yes

Critical of Trump administration? No

Blaming Democrats? No

“I support emergency legislation that would quickly address keeping families together while we continue to work on longer term solutions to prevent these crises,” Comstock said in a statement. “No one is happy with the status quo of our broken immigration system that results in the heartbreaking situations of children being separated from their parents at the border, dangerous MS-13 gang members entering our country and bringing violence to our communities, or human smugglers and traffickers exploiting the desperate or vulnerable – particularly unaccompanied children.”

Comstock added that she believes we need a “long-term solution to strengthen and protect our borders.”

Open Seats

Several candidates running to replace Republicans in open seats have avoided speaking substantively about the issue in public.

Two candidates running to succeed Paul Ryan in Wisconsin’s First Congressional District, Paul Nehlen and Bryan Steil, have not offered any public comment on the issue. Yvette Herrell, running to replace Rep. Steve Pearce in New Mexico’s second district, gave this statement: “Thanks to that inaction, we have a system that rewards those who violate the law and punishes those who wish to come to America legally.”