Now that the 12 boys and their coach have been rescued from the depths of a cave in Thailand, what, prithee, is there to capture our minds and hearts?
For more than two weeks the world has been enthralled with the daring mission almost in relief from the daily barrage of paralyzing politics.
The takeaway?
Children still capture our hearts. And we like happy endings.
Which is why the children being detained in centers across the United States continues to plague our collective conscience. Tuesdays court deadline to reunite those age 5 and younger with their parents has come and gone with just half of the 100 infants and toddlers successfully reunited. Another 2,000-plus children under the age of 18 remain separated from their parents. Government authorities have until July 26 to make those match-ups.
The countrys three immigration detention centers can accommodate 3,000 people. Because they are at capacity, Trump officials are looking to turn military bases into holding tanks able to house thousands more.
On Monday, a judge refused the Trump administrations tactic of placing the reunited families in long-term holding tanks, while their immigration status is determined a process that could take years.
U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee held to a 1997 decision that stipulates immigrant children cannot be detained longer than 20 days.
The judge, rightly, refused for either the courts or the children affected to serve as scapegoats for Congresss inability to settle immigration reform.
On Tuesday, President Trump said his solution for those fleeing crime, terror and abuse in their home countries is to not seek shelter here.
Big help.
– Susan Lynn
