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Nancy Pelosi Details Contentious Phone Call with Trump: 'You're Scaring the Children of America'

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday that she told President Donald Trump his planned Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, which were to begin over the weekend, were “scaring the children.”

She further questioned why the U.S. should be enforcing immigration law in the interior of the country at all.

Pelosi recounted at an event on immigration in Elmhurst, New York that she and the president had been speaking by phone Friday evening when she urged him to call off the 10-city immigration enforcement raids on those subject to deportation orders.

“When I spoke to the president, I said, look, I’m a mom, I have 5 kids, nine grandchildren. And children are scared. You’re scaring the children of America. Not just in those families, but their neighbors and their communities. You’re scaring the children,” the speaker said.

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Pelosi proceeded to suggest that several faith-based groups had weighed in with Trump, as well, asking him to call off the raids.

“We have to keep that pressure on to remove all doubt in our country we respect people for their dignity and worth, their spark of divinity. Respect them for their rights being in the United States of American and recognizing that families belong together,” she said.

Do you think the U.S. should deport those who violate its immigration status?

Trump announced the cancellation of the raids Saturday, tweeting, “At the request of Democrats, I have delayed the Illegal Immigration Removal Process (Deportation) for two weeks to see if the Democrats and Republicans can get together and work out a solution to the Asylum and Loophole problems at the Southern Border.

“If not, Deportations start!” he added.

“I want to give the Democrats every last chance to quickly negotiate simple changes to Asylum and Loopholes. This will fix the Southern Border, together with the help that Mexico is now giving us. Probably won’t happen, but worth a try. Two weeks and big Deportation begins!” Trump followed up in a Sunday tweet.

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At the Monday immigration event, Pelosi went on to question the purpose of enforcing immigration law for those who are already in the country.

“In terms of interior enforcement, what is the point?” she asked.

Pelosi also stated that “a violation of status is not a reason for deportation.”

“The Democrats want to tear down existing walls, our institutions, and the rule of law,” Republican national spokesperson Elizabeth Harrington tweeted in response.

The U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act sets forth several grounds upon which non-citizens can be removed back to their country of origin.

Section 1227 of the act lists a violation of immigration status at the top of reasons for deportation.

Meanwhile, The Hill reported that the House and the Senate are expecting to vote this week on additional funding to address the migrant crisis at the southern border.

The Trump administration has requested a $4.5 billion to address the spike in those crossing the border, which has surpassed 100,000 people over each of the past three months.

On Sunday, Pelosi issued a statement communicating the House will advance legislation that “protects vulnerable children and keeps America safe as it honors our values.”

The bill provides for funds for food, shelter, clothing, medical care and legal assistance.

However, “(i)t does not fund the Administration’s failed mass detention policy, but, instead, funds effective, humane alternatives to detention” and “places strict limits on influx shelters” and “creates strong oversight by Congress including to protect unaccompanied children.”

A Gallup poll conducted earlier this month found 23 percent of Americans believe immigration is the most important issue facing the country — the highest level ever recorded by the organization since it started polling the topic in 1993.

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Randy DeSoto has written more than 2,000 articles for The Western Journal since he joined the company in 2015. He is a graduate of West Point and Regent University School of Law. He is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths" and screenwriter of the political documentary "I Want Your Money."
Randy DeSoto is the senior staff writer for The Western Journal. He wrote and was the assistant producer of the documentary film "I Want Your Money" about the perils of Big Government, comparing the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Randy is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths," which addresses how leaders have appealed to beliefs found in the Declaration of Independence at defining moments in our nation's history. He has been published in several political sites and newspapers.

Randy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a BS in political science and Regent University School of Law with a juris doctorate.
Birthplace
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Nationality
American
Honors/Awards
Graduated dean's list from West Point
Education
United States Military Academy at West Point, Regent University School of Law
Books Written
We Hold These Truths
Professional Memberships
Virginia and Pennsylvania state bars
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Entertainment, Faith




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