8/16/2018

CHILDREN/ICE/IMMIGRATION/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The Trump White House is planning an event next week to honor federal immigration agents — even as more than 500 migrant children remain separated from their parents after being separated at the border. The ‘Salute to the Heroes of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs [and] Border Protection’ is scheduled for Aug. 20 in the East Room, an administration official confirmed, in the latest signal that the Trump administration anticipates the midterm fallout from its zero-tolerance border policy very differently from its critics. The ceremony is ready-made to provoke ire from opponents of the zero tolerance policy, some of whom have called for ICE’s abolition…But many immigration advocates believe the family separation drama of recent months is more likely to hurt rather than help congressional Republicans in November. Frank Sharry, executive director of the pro-immigration America’s Voice, said initially he worried Trump and the Republicans would broadcast their hard-line immigration views in the run-up to the midterms. Now, he said, he feels ‘nearly gleeful’ in welcoming it.”

Ted Hesson, “White House to honor ICE ‘heroes’ after family separation fiasco,” Politico, August 16, 2018 6:39 pm