Will Sen. Shelby Promote Trump Official Who Oversaw Family Separation Policy?

Alabama Senator Condemned Trump’s Family Separation Policy, Now Seem Poised to Promote the Official Who Oversaw It 


WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) appears poised to advance the nomination of Kathy Kraninger on Thursday as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), even though he previously expressed deep concerns about the Trump Administration’s family separation immigration policy which had Kraninger’s fingerprints all over it. Sen. Shelby and every other Republican on the Committee spoke out publicly against the policy and some even said Congress should act to stop it altogether.

If Sen. Shelby were as horrified by the Trump administration’s family separation immigration policy as he claimed to be when the public outcry was at its height, he wouldn’t be preparing to promote someone whose fingerprints are all over it. Shelby should oppose Kathy Kraninger’s nomination to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau,” said Karl Frisch, executive director of Allied Progress.

Frisch continued, “Kraninger had several opportunities to come clean about her involvement, but she has refused to give a straight answer every step of the way. She and the White House have rebuffed requests that they turn over important documents about her role overseeing the policy. That should give Sen. Shelby pause, especially when you consider his opposition to this barbaric policy. Instead Shelby is racing ahead to vote Kraninger out of committee. It’s unconscionable.” 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 

Sen. Shelby and every other Senate Banking Committee Republican spoke out against the Trump administration’s family separation immigration policy, some even wanted Congress to step in and halt the program: 

  • Richard Shelby described the Trump Administration’s family separation policy as “heart wrenching.” “‘When you separate children from their families,’” Shelby said in June. ‘That’s a tough situation anywhere in the world. We know that. Its complex. Its heart wrenching. Let’s see where we go.’” [Kristin Wilson and Ted Barrett, “Trump met with GOP senators on border wall funding but not on the separation policy,”CNN, 06/18/18] 
  • Mike Crapo opposed the Trump Administration’s family separation policy: “Children should not be separated from their families.” In June, Crapo issued a statement on the Trump Administration’s family separation policy: “‘Children should not be separated from their families and the issue needs to be resolved quickly. I have consistently supported measures that would secure our borders and provide safety for those seeking asylum or to otherwise legally enter the United States.’” [Press Release, Sen. Mike Crapo, 06/18/18]
  • Bob Corker called on the Trump Administration to halt its family separation policy: “We can all agree that innocent children should be protected.” In June, Corker co-sponsored the Keep Families Together and Enforce the Law Act, which would stop the Trump Administration’s policy of separating families at the border. “We can all agree that innocent children should be protected,” Corker said, “and I am hopeful the administration will take executive action to halt the separation of families on our southern border.”[Press Release, Sen. Bob Corker, 06/20/18]
  • Pat Toomey applauded the Trump Administration for halting its “heartbreaking” family separation policy: “President Trump is right to stop the practice.” Toomey co-sponsored Ted Cruz’s Protect Kids and Parents Act, which “mandates that immigrant families be kept together while their immigration status is determined.” “‘Separating children from parents who enter the country illegally is heartbreaking and President Trump is right to stop the practice,’” Toomey said in a statement. “‘Legislation like the bill offered by Senator Cruz is a good starting point. It ensures that migrant families can stay together and seeks to streamline the processing of asylum claims.” [Press Release, Sen. Pat Toomey, 06/20/18]
  • Dean Heller opposed the Trump Administration’s family separation policy: “Nobody wants to see children separated from their families, period.” In June, Heller co-sponsored the Keep Families Together and Enforce the Law Act. “‘Nobody wants to see children separated from their families, period. That’s why I joined several of my colleagues in urging Attorney General Jeff Sessions to stop the practice of dividing families who have illegally crossed the border until Congress can pass legislation to keep families together,’” Heller said in a statement. [Press Release, Sen. Dean Heller, 06/20/18]
  • Tim Scott opposed the Trump Administration’s family separation policy: “Congress needs to come together to find a path forward,” he said. “We can and must do better.” In June, Scott tweeted, “I do not support a policy of categorically separating children from their parents at the border. Without a doubt, we must secure our border, eliminate loopholes that encourage illegal immigration, and resist attempts to return to ‘catch and release.’” He continued, “The path that led us to this point is a complicated one, with multiple laws and court decisions muddying the waters, and Congress needs to come together to find a path forward. We can and must do better.” [Tweet by Sen. Tim Scott, 06/19/18]
  • Ben Sasse called on the Trump Administration to end its “wicked” policy of separating families at the border: “Americans are better than this.” In June, Sasse called on the Trump Administration to end its policy of separating families at the border. “The President should immediately end this family separation policy,” Sasse wrote in a Facebook post, calling it a “bad new policy.” “Family separation is wicked. It is harmful to kids and absolutely should NOT be the default U.S. policy. Americans are better than this.” [Jordain Carney, “Sasse: Trump should end ‘wicked’ family separation policy,” The Hill, 06/18/18]
  • Tom Cotton co-sponsored a bill that would halt the Trump Administration’s policy of separating families at the border. Cotton said the Keep Families Together and Enforce the Law “‘would keep families together while their immigration status is determined instead of simply releasing illegal immigrants into our country […] This is a very difficult situation, but our bill provides a simple solution, one that will both stop the separation of families and enforce our laws.’” [Press Release, Sen. Tom Cotton, 06/20/18]
  • Mike Rounds called on Congress to take action to stop family separation at the border: “Nobody wants to see families separated.” In June, he co-sponsored Ted Cruz’s Protect Kids and Parents Act, which he said would “provide strong border security while keeping families intact during adjudication process.” Rounds said, “‘Nobody wants to see families separated. Attempting to illegally enter the country is a crime that jeopardizes our national security. But we believe we can protect our borders while also showing compassion for the children who are in this situation through no fault of their own. The best course of action to stop family separation at the border is for Congress to act.’” [Press Release, Sen. Mike Rounds, 06/19/18]
  • David Perdue co-sponsored the Keep Families Together and Enforce the Law Act, which would stop the Trump Administration’s policy of separating families at the border.“‘We’re trying to enforce the law now and keep these families together and I think there’s no reason why we can’t do that,’” Perdue said. “‘I think there is Democratic and Republican pressure right now to do that.’” [JoAnn Merrigan, “Georgia Senator Perdue one of the sponsors of bill to ‘keep families together at the border,’” WSAV, 06/20/18]
  • Thom Tillis introduced legislation to stop the Trump Administration’s family separation policy: “Migrant children should not be separated from their families.” In June, Tillis introduce the Keep Families Together and Enforce the Law Act. “‘Migrant children should not be separated from their families, and both sides of the aisle can agree that we must quickly and permanently address this problem. Our legislation provides the solution by clarifying federal law to ensure that families will remain together and receive good care as they go through the legal process,’” Tillis said in a statement. [Daniella Diaz, “GOP senators introduce legislation to stop family separation,” CNN,06/20/18]
  • John Kennedy summed up the Trump Administration’s family separation policy: “I think the whole thing is a hot mess.” In June, Kennedy said he supported “‘the practice of arresting people who break the law’” but that he did not want children to be separated from their parents. “‘That would be my strong preference.’” [Lauren Fox, “Senate Republicans did not want another immigration fight. Now they might not have a choice,” CNN,06/18/18]
  • Jerry Moran opposed the Trump Administration’s family separation policy: “Our country must make the well-being of these children a priority.” In June, Moran said, “‘Our immigration system is broken […] This has become more evident in the last week when children are being forcibly separated from their parents. I oppose this policy and am working with my Senate colleagues and administration officials to bring the current circumstances to an end. Our country must make the well-being of these children a priority.” [“Roberts, Moran say they oppose policy of separating families at the border,” KCTV, 06/19/18]

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