The Story
President Trump is wading into the immigration pond at home and abroad.
What's going on?
For years, the EU's been dealing with a migrant crisis. Anti-immigration, pro-nationalist parties have been getting a big boost in the polls there thanks to their tough stances on the issue (see: Italy). Now, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's feeling the heat.
Why?
Some German lawmakers want to crack down on migrants and stamp 'deny' to asylum seekers at the border. Now Merkel's been given a two-week ultimatum to come up with a fix with EU leaders or else lawmakers plan to go around her.
You mentioned Trump though...
Correct. He got involved via Twitter. He said Germans are turning against their gov because of the migrant crisis. And that crime there is "way up." It's not. He also said that the US won't become "a migrant camp" like Europe.
What's all this about?
The Trump admin's "zero tolerance" policy that prosecutes adults who illegally cross the US-Mexico border. And separates kids from the adults they're traveling with. Over the weekend, we found out nearly 2,000 children were separated from their families between April and May. Now, both sides of the aisle are calling Trump out for it. He says a Dem law is to blame for the separations. It's not. Meanwhile, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is working on a bill to keep these families together. And Trump's planning to meet with House Republicans on immigration today.
Anything else?
Yup. Yesterday, the Trump admin hit up the Supreme Court to chime in on sanctuary cities – places where local officials usually look the other way instead of handing undocumented immigrants over to the feds. A lower court said the gov can't deny grant money to places with this policy. Now Trump and co are sending out an SOS to the Supremes to get involved.
theSkimm
Immigration is one of the biggest issues facing the US and Europe right now. And comes at a time when nationalism is on the rise. This is what it looks like when nationalist sentiment becomes government policy.
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