Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainThe Memo: Trump's strengths complicate election picture Mark Kelly: Arizona Senate race winner should be sworn in 'promptly' Cindy McCain: Trump allegedly calling war dead 'losers' was 'pretty much' last straw before Biden endorsement MORE (R-Ariz.) called on the Trump administration to rescind its "zero tolerance" border policy at the southern border on Monday, calling the policy separating families "an affront to the decency of the American people."

The administration’s current family separation policy is an affront to the decency of the American people, and contrary to principles and values upon which our nation was founded. The administration has the power to rescind this policy. It should do so now. — John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) June 18, 2018

McCain's criticism comes as the administration moves to defend itself from a barrage of bipartisan criticism.

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Sen. Lisa Murkowski Lisa Ann MurkowskiClub for Growth to spend million in ads for Trump Supreme Court nominee Pebble Mine CEO resigns over secretly recorded comments about government officials Maryland's GOP governor says Republicans shouldn't rush SCOTUS vote before election MORE (R-Alaska) also called for the administration to end the policy on Monday, and GOP Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzCruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish Trump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes Press: Notorious RBG vs Notorious GOP MORE (Texas) announced he would be introducing legislation to end the practice.

"While I have said that this is a policy discussion that needs to be had, in my view we should not have a policy designed to separate families, particularly mothers with young children, without a clear process and focus on the needs of the children," Murkowski said in a statement.

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen Kirstjen Michele NielsenMore than million in DHS contracts awarded to firm of acting secretary's wife: report DHS IG won't investigate after watchdog said Wolf, Cuccinelli appointments violated law Appeals court sides with Trump over drawdown of immigrant protections MORE and White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders pushed back on the criticism during the White House press briefing on Monday, saying that the administration was simply enforcing the law, and pressed Congress to change the laws pertaining to the policy.

“We’re not the ones responsible for creating this problem. We’ve inherited it,” Sanders said. “But we’re actually the first administration stepping up and trying to fix it.”