Former first lady Laura Bush issued a rare castigation of the Trump administration on Sunday, calling family separations at the U.S. border with Mexico “immoral” and drawing parallels to World War II internment camps.
“I live in a border state. I appreciate the need to enforce and protect our international boundaries, but this zero-tolerance policy is cruel. It is immoral. And it breaks my heart. Our government should not be in the business of warehousing children in converted box stores or making plans to place them in tent cities in the desert outside of El Paso. These images are eerily reminiscent of the Japanese American internment camps of World War II, now considered to have been one of the most shameful episodes in U.S. history.”
The Bushes have been notably quiet throughout President Donald Trump’s first term, just as they were during Barack Obama’s presidency. Former President George W. Bush appeared to push back against White House policy last month when he warned about the “dangers of isolation” during an awards ceremony, but his wife’s editorial was a far starker rebuke.
“We pride ourselves on acceptance,” the former first lady wrote. “If we are truly that country, then it is our obligation to reunite these detained children with their parents — and to stop separating parents and children in the first place. People on all sides agree that our immigration system isn’t working, but the injustice of zero tolerance is not the answer.”
Several lawmakers and reporters have begun to release accounts about the detention centers, one of which now houses upwards of 1,400 children. MSNBC reporter Jacob Soboroff said last week that the facility he toured was “called a shelter but these kids are incarcerated.”
First lady Melania Trump appeared to offer her own criticism of the policy on Sunday, telling CNN through a spokeswoman that she “hates to see children separated from their families.”
Some criticized her comments, however, for not going far enough.
“Our government should not be in the business of warehousing children in converted box stores or making plans to place them in tent cities," former first lady Laura Bush wrote in an editorial on Sunday. (Photo: Alex Wong via Getty Images)
This undated and unlocated picture shows Senator Prescott Bush (C) posing with son George Herbert Walker Bush on the left. (AFP/Getty Images) -- Father of George H.W. Bush, Prescott Bush Jr., Nancy Walker Bush Ellis, Jonathan Bush, William H.T. Bush
George H.W. Bush
Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush at Reliant Stadium on December 1, 2013 in Houston. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) -- Son of Prescott Bush -- Husband of Barbara Bush -- Father of George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, Pauline Robinson Bush, Neil Bush, Marvin Bush, Dorothy Bush Koch
Barbara Bush
On Aug. 22, 2013, former first lady Barbara Bush listens to a patient's question during a visit to the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File) -- Wife of George H.W. Bush -- Mother of George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, Pauline Robinson Bush, Neil Bush, Marvin Bush, Dorothy Bush Koch
George W. Bush
Former President George W. Bush speaks during a conference at the Bush Institute Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero) -- Husband of Laura Bush -- Father of Jenna Bush Hager & Barbara Pierce Bush -- Brother of Jeb Bush, Pauline Robinson Bush, Neil Bush, Marvin Bush, Dorothy Bush Koch
Laura Bush
Former U.S. First Lady Laura Bush speaks during the Georgetown University Symposium Advancing Afghan Women on November 15, 2013 at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) -- Wife of George W. Bush -- Mother of Jenna Bush Hager & Barbara Pierce Bush
Barbara Pierce Bush
Barbara Bush attends the 5th Annual Women In The World Summit at the David Koch Theatre at Lincoln Center on April 3, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images) -- Daughter of Laura Bush & George W. Bush
Jenna Bush Hager
Bing and Jenna Bush Hager host the Bing in the Classroom Launch Event on April 23, 2014 at Clarion School in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for Bing) -- Daughter of George W. Bush & Laura Bush -- Wife of Henry Chase Hager
Henry Chase Hager
Henry Hager and UNICEF Next Generation Chair, Jenna Bush Hager attend The Ninth Annual UNICEF Snowflake Ball at Cipriani, Wall Street on December 3, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for UNICEF) -- Husband of Jenna Hager Bush
Jeb Bush
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush speaks during a Long Island Association luncheon on February 24, 2014 in Woodbury, New York. (Photo by Andy Jacobsohn/Getty Images) -- Son of George H.W. Bush & Barbara Bush -- Husband of Columba Bush -- Father of George P. Bush, Noelle Bush, Jeb Bush Jr.
Columba Bush
Columba Bush attends the 2012 Lincoln Center Institute Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on March 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images) -- Wife of Jeb Bush -- Mother of George P. Bush, Noelle Bush, Jeb Bush Jr.
George P. Bush
In this photo taken June 25, 2013, George P. Bush, 37, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Benny Snyder) -- Son of Jeb Bush & Columba Bush -- Brother of Noelle Bush, Jeb Bush Jr.
Jeb Bush Jr. (left)
(L-R) Jeb Bush, Jr., Kairos Fellow Jonathan Shriftman, and guest attend the welcome dinner at the Kairos Society Global Summit at Espace on February 22, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Kairos Society) -- Son of Jeb Bush & Columba Bush -- Brother of George P. Bush, Noelle Bush
Noelle Bush
Noelle Bush (R), pictured on January 24, 2003 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Chris Livingston/Getty Images) -- Daughter of Jeb Bush & Columba Bush -- Sister of George P. Bush, Jeb Bush Jr.
Neil Bush
Neil Bush speaks during an event at the White House on July 15, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) -- Son of George H.W. Bush & Barbara Bush -- Father of Lauren Bush Lauren, Ashley Bush, Pierce M. Bush -- Brother George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, Pauline Robinson Bush, Marvin Bush, Dorothy Bush Koch
Maria Bush
Maria and Neil Bush at Becca Cason Thrashes residence. Becca Caason Thrash Honors Plum Sykes Second Novel 'the Debutante Divorcee' in Houston. (Bill Olive/Getty Images). -- Second Wife of Neil Bush
Lauren Bush Lauren
FEED founder Lauren Bush Lauren arrives at the FEED USA Target launch event on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) -- Daughter of Neil Bush & Sharon Smith (Bush's first wife)
David Lauren
David Lauren (L) and Lauren Bush Lauren attend the Ralph Lauren fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2014 at St. John Center Studios on February 13, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week) Husband of Lauren Bush Lauren
Ashley Bush
Ashley Bush (L) and Lauren Bush attend a special screening of 'I Love You Phillip Morris' hosted by The Cinema Society and DeLeon Tequila at the School of Visual Arts Theater on November 22, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) -- Daughter of Neil Bush & Sharon Smith (Bush's first wife)
Pierce Bush (center)
Lauren Bush Lauren, Pierce Bush and Ashley Bush attend The Hollywood Reporter & Samsung with The Cinema Society screening of A24's 'The Spectacular Now' at The Crow's Nest on July 26, 2013 in Montauk, New York. (Photo by Sonia Moskowitz/Getty Images) Son of Neil Bush & Sharon Smith (Bush's first wife)
Marvin Bush
U.S. President George W. Bush and brother Marvin Bush watch a basketball game at the Summer Olympics on August 9, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images) -- Son of George H.W. Bush & Barbara Bush -- Brother of George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, Pauline Robinson Bush, Neil Bush, Dorothy Bush Koch
Dorothy Bush Koch
U.S. President George W. Bush kisses his sister Mrs. Doro Koch at a fundraiser at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Dec. 5, 2003 in Baltimore, Maryland. (PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images) -- Daughter of George H.W. Bush & Barbara Bush -- Sister of George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, Pauline Robinson Bush, Neil Bush, Marvin Bush
Whether you're a value, growth, or momentum investor, finding strong stocks becomes easier with the Zacks Style Scores, a top feature of the Zacks Premium research service.
Donald Trump’s aides have drawn up secret plans to oust the chairman of the Federal Reserve and allow the president to set interest rates, according to reports.
Since 2021, Dogecoin (DOGE) has consistently been one of the largest cryptocurrencies in the market. The token has attracted tens of billions in investment and is up more than 27,000% since its launch. While the price has fallen considerably since highs, the token has held its own and performed well in 2024. Some do not see the growth stopping anytime soon. According to some analysts, DOGE could reach — and even surpass — the $100 mark. Don't Miss: Dogecoin millionaires are increasing — investor
