Jeff Merkley in 2019 State of the Union address

On Immigration: State of the Union: protest child separation at border

The most important political issues of the past year will be on display, not only in what President Trump says in his State of the Union address, but in who will be in the audience. Lawmakers, along with the president and first lady, pick guests every year to highlight or protest the policies of an administration.

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said he will "highlight the human suffering" caused by the president's immigration policy by bringing Albertina Contreras Teletor and Yakelin Garcia Contreras, a mother and daughter who were separated at the Southern border last year.

Yakelin, who turns 12 on Tuesday, was separated from her mother for nearly two months before they were reunited. "This child separation policy came from a dark and evil place within the heart of this administration," Merkley said in a statement.

Source: KUOW 94.9 FM (NPR) on 2019 State of the Union Feb 5, 2019

The above quotations are from 2019 State of the Union address to Congress, plus the Democratic response, Feb. 6, 2019. Click here for other excerpts from 2019 State of the Union address to Congress, plus the Democratic response, Feb. 6, 2019. Click here for other excerpts by Jeff Merkley. Click here for a profile of Jeff Merkley.
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Page last updated: May 25, 2020