Asked about Jeff Sessions’ claim that separating children from parents is rooted in the Bible, Sanders says “it it is very biblical to enforce the law.”
She then calls @Acosta dumb, saying, “I know it’s hard for you to understand even short sentences.”
2:27 PM – Jun 14, 2018
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“It is very biblical to enforce the law, that is actually repeated a number of times throughout the Bible,” Sanders said.
But reporters including Acosta reminded Sanders that no one was forcing the administration to hold children captive, and that there is in fact no law forcing it to separate them from their parents.
“Can you imagine the horror these kids must be going through when they come across the border?” Acosta asked. “They’re with their parents and they’re suddenly pulled away from their parents ― why is the government doing this?”
“Because it’s the law and that’s what the law states,” Sanders responded.
“It doesn’t have to be the law. You don’t have to do that,” Acosta said.
On Wednesday, reporters were allowed for the first time to see a Texas facility housing nearly 1,500 immigrant children separated from their parents by the U.S. government. MSNBC reporter Jacob Soboroff said the children ― many of whom have been detained for months ― are essentially in a prison.
“I kid you not, one of the first things an employee of the shelter said to me is, when we walked inside, ‘Can you try to smile at these kids, because it’s weird to see people from the outside.’” Soboroff said on MSNBC. He recalled the employee adding: “They feel like animals locked up in cages being looked at.”
During Thursday’s exchanges, reporter Brian Karem attempted to access Sander’s empathetic side.
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WOW — @BrianKarem heatedly confronts Sanders about the White House’s family separation policy, says, “Come on! You’re a parent! Have some empathy.”
2:29 PM – Jun 14, 2018
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“You’re a parent, don’t you have any empathy?” Karem asked. “Come on, Sarah, you’re a parent. Don’t you have any empathy for what these people are going through? They have less than you do. Seriously, Sarah, seriously. These people have nothing.”
Sanders deflected the question by claiming Karem was simply looking for “more TV time.”